South African police have arrested 13 people in Gauteng following 14 reported incidents during the recent G20 Summit in Johannesburg, including violent protests and thefts targeting international delegates.

The information was disclosed during a post-G20 summit media briefing on Monday, November 25, led by Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi in Johannesburg. He was joined by several Members of the Mayoral Committee (MMCs).

The summit, held over the weekend, ran from November 22 to 23 at the Nasrec Expo Centre. 

Lesufi said there were a number of disruptions and crimes reported during the event. ”You all know, South Africans being South Africans, there was no way that we would not have problems,” Lesufi said. 

“We can report the following disturbing incidents that happened in our province during this period under review.” He said that there was a theft of cell phones and luggage from delegates representing Vietnam at Checkers Sandton City Mall. 

Four suspects were immediately arrested. At DaVinci Hotel, one suspect was arrested for possession of a firearm without proper authorisation.

At Mercure Hotel in Ferndale, police investigated the theft of a firearm from a member of the SAPS, as well as possession of ammunition and negligent loss of a firearm. Two suspects were arrested in connection with these incidents.

Lesufi said that between November 17 and 20, a total of 1,799 people were arrested across Gauteng. The arrests included suspects wanted for vandalising infrastructure, as well as serious crimes such as theft, kidnapping, intimidation, and extortion. ”Among these, 1,075 cases were for contact crimes, which include assault, rape, murder, attempted murder, and house robberies,” Lesufi said.

He also detailed additional incidents, including trespassing by a group attempting to raid the centre, a case of intimidation on November 7, and a dispute involving two Brazilian pilots and two women in Kempton Park that police helped resolve.

A car hijacking incident also occurred, in which a suspect attempted to hijack a police vehicle using a toy gun. He said the police managed the situation without injury.

Meanwhile, Gauteng Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni confirmed the arrests linked to the G20. He said that while 14 cases were reported, multiple arrests were connected to individual incidents. Mthombeni said that pointing to the Sandton Mall theft as an example.

”We systematically tracked the suspects and arrested them in Honeydew, linking them to other crimes,” Mthombeni said. He added that law enforcement agencies implemented multiple operations, including Operation Shanela 2, in the run-up to and during the summit to ensure public safety across the province’s five districts.

During the summit, coordinated operational plans were executed to manage security at major roads, hotels, and public areas. Mthombeni praised the joint effort of law enforcement, saying it ensured that incidents were quickly addressed and no major injuries occurred.

Among some of those arrested include two members of Operation Dudula who were protesting near where the summit was being held. Police arrested two men, aged 46 and 54, after a police officer was injured and taken to a nearby medical facility during a violent protest. The incident occurred on Saturday, November 22, the first day of the summit. This comes after Operation Dudula leader Zandile Dabula was hit with tear gas and pepper spray as SAPS officers confronted protesters.

The police pushed back a group of Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) members and Operation Dudula activists who had gathered near the heavily fortified venue, demanding to speak to President Cyril Ramaphosa and visiting dignitaries. Officers deployed tear gas and pepper spray to disperse the crowd, and water cannons were positioned at the scene. The police have since opened a case of public violence, assault of a police officer and contravention of a court order against Operation Dudula.

First published by IOL