City of Johannesburg rolls out service delivery operation in Sandton ahead of G20 summit
Sandton is expected to be a central hub for international delegates, with many set to be accommodated in the area.
The mayor and his teams are touring several locations in Sandton to implement service delivery interventions.
One of the key initiatives the City of Johannesburg is undertaking in Sandton is the repair of roads across different parts of the area.
Pretoria Avenue is among the routes closed to motorists, with teams on site fixing underground infrastructure damaged by a water burst.
The city plans to reopen the road by the end of October, just ahead of the G20 summit.
READ: Gauteng govt confident City of Joburg will host successful G20 Summit
However, Corporate and Shared Services MMC, Sthembiso Zungu, claims the focus on fixing infrastructure in Sandton was not prompted by the international gathering.
"This should not be about G20, but beyond the event, we should be able to fix these roads and make sure our residents have roads that are perfect."
Earlier this year, President Cyril Ramaphosa criticised Mayor Dada Morero for seemingly showing little commitment to fixing the city.
He added that it would be unpleasant to welcome international guests to a city struggling with a service delivery crisis.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
9 hours ago
- The Citizen
De Lille dissolves SA Tourism board – but Outa calls her decision ‘disgraceful'
Patricia de Lille dissolves the SA Tourism board for governance failures. However, Outa said it is 'outraged' by her action. Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille has dissolved the SA Tourism board with immediate effect over what she called unlawful decisions. De Lille informed the board of her decision on 19 August, following consideration of their written representations as to why the board should not be dissolved. De Lille removes SA Tourism board for unlawful conduct The minister said the board members neglected to address the crucial question of the legality of the process the board used when calling a special board meeting on 1 August, when the unlawful resolution was taken. De Lille said legal advice to her confirmed that the board's special meeting on 1 August 2025 was convened unlawfully. She said section 18(2) of the Act empowers only the board chairperson to convene a special board meeting. 'As of 1 August 2025, the board had no chairperson to lawfully convene a special board meeting following the resignation of Professor Gregory Davids the day before (31 July 2025), but this notwithstanding, the board elected to convene a special board meeting, and in doing so, the board acted unlawfully and ultra vires its powers,' the minister said. ALSO READ: WATCH: Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille launches Tourism Month Minister warned board in the past In the past, De Lille had warned the board about the potential consequences of calling special and ordinary meetings without following the proper procedures. In a meeting with the board on 4 July 2025, and a letter to the board on 13 July 2025, the minister voiced her concerns about the board's disregard for governance protocols. The minister said this compromised the board's integrity and may have made the results of such meetings invalid and unlawful. The board responded by letter on 22 July 2025, assuring De Lille that it had put in place interventions, and these 'enhancements have and will ensure that all meetings are properly constituted, chaired and documented…' 'In the exercise of its powers, the board must always be guided by the principle of legality, which is part of the rule of law as set out in section 1(c) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa,' De Lille said. The department said the minister will initiate the process to appoint a new board and invite nominations for eligible people in due course. In the interim, De Lille will appoint one or more individuals to manage the board's affairs until she installs a new board. 'The minister assures South Africans and the tourism sector that these developments will not derail the ongoing programmes, including SA Tourism's collaboration with the Tourism Business Council of South Africa, to deliver a successful G20 summit,' the department said. Outa calls De Lille's decision 'disgraceful' In response to De Lille's action, the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) said it is 'outraged'. 'This action is nothing short of gross political interference and represents a direct assault on governance and accountability within a state entity,' it said. Outa said the SA Tourism board was addressing serious governance concerns, including irregular financial conduct. It added that it suspects De Lille's decision was made to protect the suspended SA Tourism CEO Nombulelo Guliwe. 'Instead of supporting her own competent board for holding executive management accountable, the minister has chosen to protect the SA Tourism CEO by disbanding the very body tasked with oversight. 'As far as Outa is concerned, the fact that the board does not have a chairperson – which incidentally is the minister's fault – doesn't make the board's decision unlawful in taking the necessary action that it did. We believe the board was quorate and unanimous in how it arrived at the decision to suspend the CEO, pending a disciplinary enquiry into her conduct. NOW READ: The missed opportunity in South African tourism
Mail & Guardian
12 hours ago
- Mail & Guardian
Time to elevate the cooperation between Africa and Japan
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. (Supplied) The Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) opens today, 20 August, in Yokohama, Japan and will run until Friday. This summit-level meeting brings together a large number of African leaders, including President Cyril Ramaphosa, to discuss how Japan and Africa can work hand in hand to build a prosperous future. TICAD — open, inclusive, pioneering TICAD is more than an international conference; it is an ongoing process that embodies the ideas and partnerships forged within it. Some of its defining features are openness and inclusiveness. From its inception, TICAD has welcomed international organisations as well as business sectors and civil society. Now, Japan, the UN, the United Nations Development Programme, the World Bank and the African Union Commission are co-organisers of TICAD. This reflects Japan's conviction that drawing on the expertise of diverse actors leads to richer dialogue and more effective contributions to Africa's development. Another defining feature of TICAD is its pioneering nature. Japan launched this conference with Africa in 1993 — well ahead of other countries — at a time when the continent was marginalised from the international community. It was Japan that played a significant role in bringing global attention back to Africa. Since then, TICAD has evolved into a more powerful and efficient framework for supporting African development and achieving a co-prosperous relationship between Africa and Japan. Throughout its long history, TICAD has witnessed some significant moments. At TICAD 6 in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2016, then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced the vision of a 'Free and Open Indo- Pacific'. On stage, he said, 'Japan bears the responsibility of fostering the confluence of the Pacific and Indian Ocean and of Asia and Africa into a place that values freedom, rule of law and the market economy, free from force or coercion and making it prosperous. Japan wants to work together with you in Africa in order to make the seas that connect the two continents into peaceful seas that are governed by the rule of law.' This marked the start of Japan's Free and Open Indo-Pacific vision, which has since been embraced by many countries. TICAD 9 as a new chapter TICAD has continuously evolved and TICAD 9 represents a new chapter. In its early years, TICAD mainly served as a forum to discuss African development, as its name suggests. During this early stage, Japan sought to create opportunities to assist the region and to draw the international community's attention back to Africa. As Africa's development advanced and the continent came to be regarded as a powerful centre for growth, discussions expanded. In Japan, it was recognised that, in order to benefit from Africa's rising dynamism, it was crucial not only to provide support through Official Development Assistance (ODA) but also to expand business collaboration and promote trade and investment. African leaders also strongly called for robust business ties with Japan. Reflecting these voices, TICAD adapted to be a platform for promoting trade, business ties and investment. Now, TICAD 9 is expected to mark another turning point. Under the theme 'Co-create Innovative Solutions with Africa', the conference aims to elevate Africa-Japan cooperation to a new level. Building on Japan's continued support through ODA, as well as expanding trade and investment ties, TICAD 9 positions Africa and Japan as partners in shaping international governance and tackling global challenges together. The continent is undoubtedly a thriving hub for global development, with abundant resources, knowledge and human potential. Today, about one quarter of UN member states are African and in the near future a quarter of the world's population — and a third of the global youth — is expected to live in Africa. At the same time, Africa is among the most affected by climate change. Africa is in need of infrastructure development but has difficulty accessing finance. Africa is among the under-represented in international organisations. It is time to harness Japan's political endeavours and 'Made in Japan' technologies and products to Africa's vitality and dynamism in order to tackle the pressing challenges and global problems we are facing. Discussions at TICAD 9 TICAD 9 will focus discussions on three pillars — Economy, Peace and Stability and Society — alongside three cross-cutting topics: sustainable development led by the private sector; youth and women and regional integration and connectivity within Africa and beyond. The broad scope of these themes reflects Japan's commitment to working inclusively with Africa. Discussions on the economy will emphasise the importance of building pathways to sustainable development and strengthening connectivity — both within Africa and with the wider world. Unemployment remains one of the most pressing challenges. To tackle this, it is vital for Japan and Africa to work together to advance industrialisation and promote economic diversification through stronger industrial ecosystems. In terms of innovation, Japan has developed a distinctive approach to supporting African countries by applying innovation in ways best suited to their own industries. For example, in South Africa, Japan has supported productivity enhancement through the Kaizen project, helping workers identify solutions to improve efficiency and output while incorporating AI and other technologies. In this way, Japan has offered African countries a framework to establish their own approaches to innovation and problem-solving. Guided by the principle that Africa must lead in resolving its own conflicts, the discussions on Peace and Stability will include good governance, conflict resolution and Women, Peace and Security. The discussions on Society will cover a broad range of Africa-Japan cooperation, including health, youth and women's empowerment, people-to-people exchanges, environmental protection and climate change. In addition, as a country prone but resilient to natural disasters, Japan can offer its expertise in disaster prevention. These three pillars will be the focus of the plenary sessions taking place today and tomorrow. In addition, a public-private business dialogue will take place. Furthermore, numerous thematic events are planned, featuring more than 200 seminars and symposiums, along with approximately 300 exhibition booths organised by various sectors including international organisations, private companies and NGOs. This reflects the growing interest and enthusiasm for deepening partnerships with Africa. Elevating the South Africa-Japan partnership President Ramaphosa and several ministers, as well as many South African businesspeople, will participate in various TICAD events. Although TICAD is a multi-lateral forum between Japan and the entire African region, it is also an important opportunity to strengthen the bilateral relationship between South Africa and Japan. This year's TICAD 9 holds special significance as South Africa chairs the G20 and hosts the first G20 Summit on the African continent. It is crucial for South Africa and Japan to work closely together to link the success of TICAD 9 with that of the G20 and to jointly articulate a shared vision for Africa's future and reconfirm our will to collaborate to solve global challenges. Reflecting this, a South Africa-Japan summit meeting between President Ramaphosa and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is scheduled to take place during TICAD 9. While the two countries have already developed wide-ranging areas of cooperation, TICAD 9 will be a meaningful opportunity to further strengthen the relations, especially collaborations on decarbonisation. For Japanese companies here — about 250 in total — the South African market also serves as a gateway to the African continent. Strengthening business ties will therefore be mutually beneficial. Furthermore, exchanging views on the international situation will be essential for both countries as we work together in the international arena. During the TICAD 9 period, we will see tangible outcomes, both governmental and business ones. It is expected that TICAD 9 will stand as a major milestone in strengthening the relationship between Africa and Japan as partners to co-create innovative solutions together to deal with global challenges. For South Africa and Japan in particular, the conference offers a significant opportunity to address a wide range of issues and to further elevate our friendship. Fumio Shimizu is the Japanese ambassador to South Africa.
Mail & Guardian
13 hours ago
- Mail & Guardian
Africa's G20 moment: Why social innovators must be at the centre of the conversation
Youth unemployment is at an all-time high. Photo: Oupa Nkosi/M&G As South Africa prepares to host the G20 Summit in November, the first on African soil, the stakes are high. This historic opportunity places the country and the continent at a crossroads, one that demands not just economic diplomacy, but bold rethinking of how we build inclusive, sustainable societies. Amid rising inequality, youth unemployment and a climate crisis threatening livelihoods across the continent, a central question arises: 'Can social innovators help shape the G20 towards more human-centred, inclusive economic models?' And will global leaders be willing to listen? If South Africa seizes this moment with intention, the answer is, 'Yes.' Social innovation — the use of creative, entrepreneurial strategies to address pressing social problems — has long been underestimated in formal policy spaces. It is time to mainstream the social economy into global development frameworks. This is especially critical for the Global South, where social entrepreneurs are already stepping into service and infrastructure gaps left by overstretched or ineffective states. While often criticised for being more symbolic than solution-oriented, the G20 provides a platform for consensus-building on macroeconomic policy. Within that, there is the potential to elevate the role of social enterprise as a force for economic inclusion. Social innovators are not fringe actors. They are builders of jobs, creators of local economies and drivers of community resilience. The challenge, however, is access to capital, policy influence and recognition. Despite the G20's various engagement tracks — including Civil Society 20, Business 20 and Youth 20 — grassroots voices too often get drowned out in a sea of technical jargon and elite diplomacy. The need, then, is not just for a seat at the table but for a rethinking of who gets to shape the agenda. One opportunity is the 'Social Summit', which will be held in the lead-up to the G20 Leaders' Summit, designed to explore community-based solutions and ground the macroeconomic discussions in lived realities. If done right, it could ensure that the perspectives of township entrepreneurs, informal traders and innovators operating on the margins are elevated to the global stage. To do that, three key policy shifts are needed. First, the formal recognition of the social and solidarity economy must be accelerated. South Africa has a draft green paper on this but it remains in limbo. Elevating this to a white paper — driven by the department of trade, industry and competition — would acknowledge social enterprises as legitimate economic actors, opening access to finance, procurement opportunities and support services. Second, access to capital must go beyond rhetoric. Investment, blended finance and grant-based support can work in tandem to ensure that innovative ventures solving social problems don't fall through the cracks. Funding must support, not just start-up phases, but also the growth of enterprises, allowing them to scale and hire more people. Private capital is essential at this point in time, since development funding from the US was stopped. Third, skills development is essential. From school curricula and vocational training to integration in university curricula, young people need the tools to become creators of solutions, not just job seekers. The role of social innovators and entrepreneurs in equipping communities with these skills cannot be overstated. This agenda aligns with the broader global pivot toward 'business with purpose'. The idea that profit alone is no longer enough — companies must also consider people and the planet. While this might sound idealistic, the alternative is unsustainable. The planet is dying, inequality is rising and the American retreat from multilateralism threatens progress. We simply can't afford business as usual. Big businesses, too, must play their part — not merely through corporate social responsibility but by embedding impact into their business models and partnering with local innovators to extend their reach. There are, of course, risks. The G20 could once again devolve into an echo chamber of promises with little follow-through. But this is where Africa has a unique chance to lead differently. By focusing on inclusion, sustainability and innovation, South Africa can offer a model of economic policy rooted not in trickle-down theory but in inclusive economic transformation. The road ahead will not be easy. But the opportunity is real, not just to shape the G20, but to reshape our understanding of what drives meaningful economic development. Social innovation and entrepreneurship is not a miracle cure. It is, however, a durable and necessary path forward. In a world searching for effective models, Africa's innovators are ready to show the way — if we let them. Dr Solange Rosa is the director of the Bertha Centre for Social Innovation at the University of Cape Town's Graduate School of Business.
