Operation Dudula leader Zandile Dabula was pepper-sprayed by police on Saturday, 22 November 2025 outside the G20 Summit venue at Nasrec, Johannesburg, after a tense standoff between protesters and law-enforcement officers. The phrase “Zandile Dabula pepper-sprayed at G20 Summit” quickly made headlines. The incident unfolded shortly after midday when members of the movement reportedly stepped out of the designated protest area, prompting police to intervene swiftly.
The G20 Summit, which has drawn global leaders, civil society organisations and media from across the world, has also become a magnet for local pressure groups seeking to spotlight domestic concerns. Operation Dudula, which has long positioned itself as a grassroots movement calling for prioritization of South Africa’s internal social and economic challenges, staged a demonstration near the heavily secured conference precinct.
A Protest That Turned Confrontational
According to witnesses, dozens of Dudula supporters were chanting and holding placards demanding that the South African government “fix home first” before committing itself to global discussions. Zandile Dabula, who was notably pepper-sprayed at the G20 Summit, argued that the country’s leadership spends too much political energy on international forums while persistent issues such as unemployment, crime, illegal immigration and failing public services remain unresolved.
Tensions escalated when a group of protesters edged beyond the barricaded demonstration zone. Police, tasked with maintaining strict control around the summit’s perimeter, issued several verbal warnings before deploying pepper spray to push the group back. In the chaos, Zandile Dabula, who was leading the march, was struck directly.
Footage circulating on social media shows Dabula clutching her face while fellow members rushed to assist her with water and cloths. Paramedics on standby reportedly treated her at the scene, and she is said to be in stable condition after being pepper-sprayed at G20 Summit.
Operation Dudula Condemns Police Response
Following the confrontation, Operation Dudula issued a statement accusing police of excessive force and attempting to silence legitimate civil action. The movement insists that its protest was peaceful and that members only crossed the designated line to deliver their memorandum closer to the summit’s entry point.
Dabula, speaking shortly after receiving medical attention, said the movement would not be intimidated. She vowed that Operation Dudula would continue pressing for accountability from the government, particularly regarding service delivery and immigration control.
Police Defend Rapid Action
The Johannesburg Metro Police Department and SAPS officials, however, defended their response as a necessary measure to uphold summit security protocols. With several heads of state and high-level delegations in attendance, officers have been operating under heightened security directives. Authorities emphasized that all organizations and movements were thoroughly briefed on the rules governing assembly around the venue.
In a brief statement, police noted that stepping beyond the demarcated protest area constituted a security breach, prompting intervention “to prevent escalation and maintain the integrity of the safety perimeter.” Despite the controversy over Zandile Dabula being pepper-sprayed at the G20 Summit, police stressed their actions were in line with security needs.
A Spotlight on Domestic Discontent
The incident has reignited debates about public order policing, the limits of protest rights, and the growing frustration among social movements who feel unheard by national leadership. As South Africa hosts the global summit, the clash serves as a reminder that while world leaders gather to tackle global crises, many local communities remain desperate for urgent domestic solutions.
Operation Dudula says it will continue demonstrating throughout the summit, insisting that “South Africa must fix local problems before engaging global ones.”
