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Johannesburg Declares Full Readiness as the City Prepares to Host the G20 Summit
A moment Johannesburg has been preparing for
Johannesburg has waited a long time to host an international gathering of this scale, and next week the city finally takes centre stage. With the G20 Summit set to begin on 22 November at the Nasrec Conference Centre, Mayor Dada Morero says the metro is more than ready to welcome world leaders.
Speaking at the Global South Media and Think Tank Forum, Morero told IOL News that the final preparations are in place and that the city is confident in its ability to host a flawless event. He described the moment as historic because it will be the first time the G20 Summit is held on African soil.
Behind the scenes: the cleaning, fixing, and fast tracking
Johannesburg residents have not missed the sudden uptick in activity across the city. Streets are being swept, illegal dumping spots are being cleared, and pavements once crowded with informal traders are opening up again. The city has described these changes as part of a broader effort to reclaim Johannesburg, although some opposition parties argue that the timing feels too convenient.
Morero insists the operations form part of a longer-term strategy to restore service delivery, not a rushed makeover for international guests.
The Bomb Squad and the battle against broken infrastructure
A major part of the G20 build-up has been the work of the so-called Bomb Squad. Led by Dr Snuki Zikalala of the ANC Veterans League, the team was established in June to respond to the city’s biggest pain points. Their tasks range from filling potholes and repairing dead streetlights to cutting grass, unblocking sewage overflows, and clearing unregistered refuse dumps.
Johannesburg has long struggled with water outages, electricity cuts, malfunctioning traffic lights, and deteriorating roads. Morero says the Bomb Squad and its partners have pushed through some of the most urgent fixes to make the city safer and easier to navigate before delegates arrive.
Business leaders join the clean-up
Another project launched this week is the CEOs’ Clean Up Campaign. More than one hundred and fifty business leaders have agreed to work with the city on visible clean-up efforts and urban renewal projects. The first activation took place in the inner city and will move to Soweto next.
According to Morero, this initiative marks the start of a long-term partnership between local government and the private sector to improve Johannesburg block by block.
Vandalism threatens the city’s efforts
While the city prepares to welcome the world, a new challenge has emerged. The Gauteng Provincial Government has condemned what it calls malicious attacks on recently refurbished public infrastructure.
Government spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga confirmed that armed individuals destroyed G20 Summit signage near Nasrec and damaged streetlights and traffic lights along the R55 route. He described these actions as an attempt to embarrass South Africa on the global stage and undermine the work that has gone into preparing for the summit.
Johannesburg’s big test
For many residents, the real question is whether the improvements will last long after the G20 delegation leaves. Johannesburg’s infrastructure problems did not appear overnight, and they cannot be solved fully in a single week.
Still, the summit has injected a sense of urgency that the city has not felt in years. From corporate partners to rapid response teams, the city now has an opportunity to turn short-term upgrades into long-term renewal.
Morero believes Johannesburg is on the right path. Next week will reveal whether the city can deliver on that promise.
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: News24
