By Thapelo Molefe
With just eight days remaining before Johannesburg hosts global heads of state for the G20 Leaders’ Summit, opposition parties and civic groups have raised doubts about Gauteng’s real state of readiness, warning that the current clean-up efforts are largely superficial and may not translate into lasting improvements for residents.
While Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has repeatedly asserted that Gauteng is “ready to welcome the world,” critics argue that government’s efforts have focused narrowly on high-visibility zones, leaving many communities in neglect.
Speaking to Inside Metros on Thursday, the Joburg Crisis Alliance (JCA), a civic coalition advocating for better urban governance, said Johannesburg appears “adequately ready” to host international delegates but warned that the preparations are uneven and skewed toward affluent areas and event routes.
“From our vantage point as a civic coalition focused on accountability, our assessment is that Johannesburg is in a final rush to be prepared in visible terms for the upcoming summit,” said the JCA Project Coordinator Yunus Chamda.
“The city appears ready for the immediate event, but the risk remains that the broader urban poor and service-delivery base are not fully covered.”
Chamda said the recent clean-ups, road patching and lighting improvements are largely “event-centric,” urging authorities to disclose which areas have benefited and how funds have been allocated.
“While restoration in delegate zones is necessary and welcome, the broader neglected areas of Johannesburg are receiving lesser attention. We would ask for transparency on which neighbourhoods have been upgraded and whether the expenditure matches the work undertaken,” he said.
Although the Alliance acknowledged visible signs of improvement around hotels and venues, Chamda cautioned that many “last-mile access routes, signage and adjacent public spaces” remain substandard.
“We urge closer inspection of emergency preparedness, lighting and operational continuity should disruptions occur,” said Chamda.
He further questioned why such energy and resources were not routinely applied to everyday service delivery.
“We commend the intention, but remain unconvinced that the paradigm has shifted yet. Only the months after the G20 will tell us whether this marks a real turnaround,” Chamda added.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Gauteng dismissed the notion that the province’s G20 preparations reflect genuine progress, saying the work done benefits “already affluent places” while leaving township communities behind.
“We don’t think there’s an issue around the state of readiness of G20, as the event is taking place mostly in already affluent areas,” said EFF Gauteng Communications Officer Dumisani Baleni.
“Our preparedness to host international events has not meant any significant improvement to service delivery or the lives of our people,” said Baleni.
Baleni further said the bulk of repairs were concentrated around Sandton, major highways and key corridors.
“In the south, east, central and northern parts of Johannesburg, there are still sections without proper traffic lights. In townships, there’s no sign of a G20 event,” he said.
He added that even the limited improvements were “insignificant” given the extent of neglect.
“Government cannot fix decades of decay in eight months. If the Gauteng government wants to turn things around, it must invest genuinely in infrastructure and eradicate corruption in tenders,” said Baleni.
On safety, the EFF said dignitaries and government officials “are not impacted by crime as they have security, it is ordinary people who remain victims.”
Baleni also argued that high-profile events rarely deliver long-term benefits.
“History has taught us that private companies and corrupt politicians benefit the most. There are no expectations from a government that has failed its people for decades.”
ActionSA also accused the Lesufi administration of relying on “quick-fix politics” and public relations rather than genuine planning.
The party said its oversight visits and community engagements revealed that infrastructure work was limited to visible corridors.
“While there are visible clean-up and patchwork efforts along key G20 routes, the underlying infrastructure across most of Johannesburg and Gauteng remains in a state of decay,” the party said.
“Traffic lights remain dysfunctional, waste management continues to collapse, and road maintenance is inconsistent.”
ActionSA argued that the provincial government’s claim of a “lasting legacy” lacks credibility.
“What we are witnessing is a repeat of superficial repairs before major events, without addressing systemic issues like procurement corruption and poor maintenance planning,” it said.
The party also raised concerns about security readiness, citing “serious doubts” over the vetting and legitimacy of the Gauteng Crime Prevention Wardens (AmaPanyaza).
“VIP routes may appear secure, but ordinary residents continue to live under threat of violent crime daily,” ActionSA warned.
It further accused the province of sidelining municipalities in planning and duplicating functions.
“Coordination has been chaotic, politically driven and wasteful, hallmarks of a government that governs through PR rather than planning.”
ActionSA said it will push for a full post-event audit of spending.
“Taxpayers deserve transparency on contracts, criteria and costs. The world may see a polished surface for a few days, but we will continue holding the Gauteng Government accountable for the rot beneath it,” the party concluded.
Chamda said the JCA and its members would monitor and engage with city authorities after the summit to ensure the infrastructure and service-delivery gains are not reversed.
“Hosting a world-class event is not an end in itself. The real measure of success will be whether the improvements benefit ordinary residents long after the last leader departs,” he said.
INSIDE METROS