No interrupted water and power supply during G20 summit - Lesufi

THERE will be no water or electricity shortages during the G20 summit in Johannesburg later this month. That's according to Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi.

- SIMON MAJADIBODU [e-mail]

On Tuesday, at a media briefing Lesufi said the province was ready to host the summit, which will take place from November 22 to 23. His assurance comes as the City of Johannesburg continues to struggle with service delivery challenges, including water and electricity outages, potholes, decaying infrastructure, uncollected waste, and non-functioning streetlights and traffic signals. The city has since intensified its service delivery operations ahead of the global event.

While there have been visible improvements in the central business district - particularly in waste collection and general cleanliness - critics remain sceptical, arguing that the cleanup is driven solely by the G20 summit. Lesufi said significant infrastructure upgrades, designed to be permanent, were nearing completion and aimed at delivering a seamless experience for delegates and residents alike.