Despite crippling water issues, Morero insists Johannesburg is G20-ready
Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero says the city is ready to host the G20 Summit despite ongoing water challenges, assuring residents that infrastructure and service delivery issues are being addressed ahead of the November 2025 event.
Image: Itumeleng English / Independent Newspapers
Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero says the city is ready to host the upcoming G20 Summit despite ongoing water challenges in several parts of the metro.
The G20 is taking place on November 22 to 23, 2025, in Johannesburg.
Speaking on the sidelines outside the Council Chambers in Braamfontein on Saturday, where he addressed civil society groups that had submitted a memorandum demanding a more equitable water system, Morero said the city had the capacity to host the international gathering.
“From the water supply, security issues, we are fine. We are ready to host the G20. There’s never been an issue that we thought we would not be able to host.
''We have hosted already eight meetings of the G20 right here in Johannesburg, before the summit. So we do have the necessary capacity,” Morero said.
IOL previously reported that political parties have argued Johannesburg is far from prepared for the high-profile event.
Democratic Alliance (DA) Gauteng leader Solly Msimanga said the city was “not ready” to host the summit, blaming what he described as a lack of leadership and poor service delivery. “Why is it that they cannot even appoint a city manager?” Msimanga asked, referring to the city’s ongoing leadership challenges following a court ruling that former city manager Floyd Brink’s appointment was unlawful.
DA caucus leader in Johannesburg, Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku, also raised concerns that key areas such as Sandton, where many G20 delegates are expected to stay, continue to experience frequent service disruptions, including water shortages.
He acknowledged that while some areas such as Kensington continued to face severe water challenges, the city was making progress in addressing infrastructure-related problems.
“The areas that are affected by water currently, these are Kensington area, which has a very severe challenge, which we are responding to.
''At least 80% to 90% of the issues in Westbury, Newclare and Coronationville have been solved, except the issue of throttle, which we’re doing at night. Sandton, Bryanston, all those areas do have supply of water, except for throttle,” he said.
Morero said many of the issues raised by civil society groups formed part of the city’s existing agenda under the Presidential Working Group.
He added that he would still meet with representatives from the organisations to provide detailed responses to their concerns.
“Some of the issues raised are quite technical. I mean, we have explained over and over the sweeping account, but the matter is brought back, regardless of us giving answers. So I must then sit down with the team from the civil society so that we can explain what this thing means,” he said.
Responding to concerns about the potential electoral impact of the “No Water, No Vote” campaign, Morero said civic groups had a right to raise their voices.
“Of course, society, if government is not responding to their immediate needs, the only tool that they have is the elections, and they will decide how they use it,” he said.
However, he urged residents to exercise their democratic responsibility. “Whilst you raise that, there will be no vote, we still have a responsibility as citizens to participate in every election. It’s our responsibility so that we can make a choice and decide which government must lead you,” Morero said.
He added that the city had “never shied away” from addressing water and infrastructure challenges and would continue to provide detailed responses to each issue raised.
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