Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi said that the province is officially ready to host the G20 Leaders’ Summit. Yolanda Mdzeka/News24
With just weeks to go before the world’s most influential leaders descend on Johannesburg for the G20 Leaders’ Summit, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has boldly declared, “I’ve never been more confident,” affirming the province’s readiness to host the high-profile event.
The summit, scheduled for 22–23 November 2025 at the Nasrec Expo Centre, marks a historic moment as South Africa chairs the G20 for the first time.
“We are proud to report back to the president that we have resolved all the matters raised earlier this year,” Lesufi said, referencing concerns previously flagged by President Cyril Ramaphosa about infrastructure and service delivery.
Key Preparations
Gauteng has undertaken for the upcoming G20 Leaders’ Summit, along with quotes from Premier Panyaza Lesufi that reflect the province’s readiness.
Infrastructure upgrades: All major roads leading to the summit venue have been repaired, including the complete patching of potholes across Johannesburg.
Energy security: A resilient energy plan has been activated to ensure an uninterrupted power supply for summit venues, hotels, and surrounding areas.
Public space readiness: Clean-up operations and beautification efforts have transformed key city zones to welcome international guests.
Safety and security: Law enforcement agencies have ramped up operations, and a disaster management centre has been activated to respond to any emergencies.
“We’ve fixed every road leading to the venue. No pothole will embarrass us in front of the world. We’ve made sure the lights stay on, Gauteng will not go dark during the G20. We want the world to see the best of Gauteng, clean, proud, and ready. We’ve left nothing to chance. Gauteng is safe, secure, and prepared for anything,” Lesufi said.
Cleaning Up for Guests
Responding to concerns that the G20 preparations were merely cosmetic, Lesufi stated that the improvements made for the summit will serve as a blueprint for speeding up service delivery across Gauteng beyond the event.
“We’ve resolved that even beyond the summit, the Tuesday meetings that we hold every week to prepare will continue even beyond the G20 so that we can convert them to service delivery meetings – not only so we can beautify our province, but also so municipalities can expedite service delivery,” he said.
Lesufi emphasised that the province had to re-prioritise budgets across departments to meet the summit’s demands, but insisted that the investment would yield long-term benefits for residents and businesses.
“This is not just about hosting a summit—it’s about showcasing Gauteng’s capability and resilience on the global stage,” he said.
The G20 Summit will bring together leaders from the world’s largest economies to discuss pressing global issues, including economic growth, climate change, geopolitical tensions, and debt relief for emerging markets.
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