Johannesburg Executive Mayor Dada Morero says the seamless execution of the G20 Summit demonstrates that the metro has the capacity, systems, and stability to deliver reliable services — not only for global events but also for residents on a daily basis.

Speaking to the media at Nasrec on Sunday, Morero said the smooth operations on the summit’s opening day marked a significant milestone for the city and showcased Africa’s strengthened voice on the global stage.

“From where I am sitting, I think the G20 was successful from a logistics point of view. Whether it’s traffic management or the movement of Heads of State and delegates from hotels to the main venue, everything has been very smooth,” he said.

Morero added that the G20 Declaration positions Africa more favourably to push for progress on issues such as climate change and debt reform, and he emphasised that African governments must continue to drive these reforms forward.

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In recent weeks, Johannesburg has undergone extensive revitalisation across all seven regions. Roads have been resurfaced, public areas cleaned, intersections repaired, and long-standing service delivery backlogs addressed through intensified Mayoral High-Impact Service Delivery Programmes.

Many residents questioned whether these improvements were purely to impress international guests. However, Morero dismissed the notion of special budget allocations for the summit.

“As you know, in June we passed a fully funded budget covering all seven regions, including the one where the summit is being held. We didn’t have to top up anything for the G20 — we simply implemented what we had already budgeted for,” he said.

Morero said the improvements mirror the internal stabilisation and management reforms he implemented after taking office.

“I said when I came into office that the City has the capacity to turn around. Part of my work was to deal with constraints within the management teams, because a large part of the problem is a management issue,” he said.

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He noted that between November and June, the City focused on setting up systems and addressing internal blockages.

“Now we are seeing the results we want. They are not fully where they should be — there are still issues I must address internally to get management and supervision to happen,” he added.

Morero invited residents to judge the City’s commitment to sustained service delivery once the G20 concludes.

“Check us on Tuesday. If we are not on the ground, then it means we were doing it for the G20. But if you see us continuing in all regions to unblock service delivery failures through the Mayoral High-Impact Service Delivery Programme, then we are doing what we said we would do,” he said.

The mayor said the summit offered residents a glimpse of a well-managed, responsive Johannesburg. As global leaders depart, he emphasised that the true test will be maintaining the momentum in the weeks and months ahead.

For now, Morero insists that the systems, budget, and political will are aligned, and that building a ‘City that works for all’ is an ongoing commitment rather than a slogan.