Johannesburg gears up for G20 leaders’ summit with tight security and citywide clean-up

With just weeks to go before world leaders arrive in Johannesburg for the highly anticipated G20 Leaders’ Summit at Nasrec, the city has entered its final phase of preparation.

From infrastructure touch-ups to heightened security, authorities are racing to ensure that South Africa presents itself as a capable and welcoming host nation.

Citywide clean-up and infrastructure push

Across Johannesburg, residents have noticed a flurry of maintenance work - streetlights are being repaired, traffic signals restored, guardrails fixed and overgrown grass cut.

The city’s “spring cleaning” is aimed at polishing up key routes and venues ahead of the event. Officials say the improvements are not only about aesthetics but also part of a broader effort to restore functionality and safety across major intersections and access roads leading to Nasrec.

Heightened security measures

Security has become a central focus as the summit approaches.

Police visibility has increased along major G20 routes and several areas around the asrec precinct have already been cordoned off. Officers are stationed both on foot and in vehicles, conducting checks on all traffic entering the Expo Centre.

However, security was briefly tested when a 64-year-old former police officer was arrested for attempting to “test” the system by entering the secure zone under false pretenses.

Authorities confirmed that he faces charges of trespassing, with additional charges under consideration.

Officials emphasised that this was an isolated incident, the first of its kind in the lead-up to the G20 meetings and reiterated that security protocols are being continuously reviewed to prevent any breaches.

Managing protests and public disruption

Authorities also addressed growing reports of possible service delivery protests during the summit. Police officials assured that protestors would be allocated a designated “Speaker’s Corner” to voice grievances without disrupting the main proceedings.

“The summit will remain secure, inaccessible and unauthorised to the public,” Gauteng Acting Provincial Commissioner, Maj Gen Fred Kekana said, stressing that South Africa respects the constitutional right to protest while maintaining order around the event.

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Traffic disruptions and dry runs

To ensure the smooth transport of delegations from various airports to the summit venues, a series of simulation exercises or “dry runs” are being conducted. These rehearsals will temporarily affect major routes including the N1, N3, N12, R21, R24, R512 and Golden Highway, as well as roads around Sandton. Authorities plan to release detailed information on affected routes closer to the summit date.

Coordination across all levels of government

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi and city officials have been working in tandem with local municipalities, national government and private sector stakeholders, including the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), to ensure readiness at all ports of entry. Regular site inspections have been conducted following each intergovernmental meeting to verify progress.

Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela said the collective effort reflects a “whole-of-government”approach to service delivery and readiness.

“We planned together and executed together,” she noted, adding that each department had specific mandates to ensure no element of preparation was overlooked.

Final touches before the global stage

As the clock ticks down to the end of November, Johannesburg’s readiness remains under close watch. Authorities are prioritising the repair of non-functioning traffic lights and other infrastructure glitches that could hamper logistics during the summit.

Despite the challenges, officials remain confident that South Africa will host a safe, efficient, and world-class G20 Leaders’ Summit, a showcase not only of its diplomatic capability but also of its resilience and readiness to engage the global community.