With the eyes of the world set to turn towards Johannesburg for the G20 Leaders’ Summit, a wave of targeted vandalism has struck the city’s newly upgraded infrastructure, prompting the Gauteng Provincial Government to declare it a deliberate act of sabotage.
In a strongly worded statement, the government reported that newly installed G20 Summit signage near Nasrec has been vandalised, allegedly by armed assailants. In a coordinated move, streetlights and traffic lights along the crucial R55 route have also been damaged just days before the high-profile international event.
A Coordinated “Direct Assault”
The provincial government did not mince words, labelling the destruction a “direct assault on our nation and its standing in the world.” It suggested these “inexcusable and vindictive actions” are strategically aligned with efforts by “smear merchants” to promote negative narratives and “outlandish conspiracy theories” about South Africa.
The timing is particularly sensitive. The province has been engaged in a flurry of urban maintenancefixing lights, cleaning streets, and erecting signageto present a polished face for the global summit. While Mayor Dada Morero has insisted this is part of a sustained “city cleanup” movement, the efforts have been met with public skepticism, with many residents criticizing the work as a superficial effort to impress international visitors.
Zero Tolerance and Severe Penalties
The government has issued a stark warning to the perpetrators, reminding them that damaging essential infrastructure is a severe criminal offence under the Criminal Matters Amendment Act of 2015. Those found guilty face the prospect of a lengthy prison sentenceup to 30 years.
Furthermore, the law includes stringent “onus of proof” clauses, meaning anyone found in possession of stolen infrastructure material will be presumed guilty and must prove their innocence in court.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi confirmed that authorities are aware of elements mobilising to “cause chaos” and are working with national security structures. “We will identify, apprehend, and fully prosecute the perpetrators of this sabotage to the full extent of the law,” Lesufi stated.
The message from the government is unequivocal: there will be zero tolerance for any disruption. As the province prepares to host a landmark event that carries significant national prestige, it is making it clear that any attempts at sabotage will be met with a swift and decisive response.
