Johannesburg gets rushed makeover for G20 chiefs

Johannesburg is receiving a last-minute spruce-up ahead of the G20 summit to conceal years of urban decay, including potholed roads, open sewers, and dilapidated infrastructure in a city of nearly six million. President Cyril Ramaphosa ordered the clean-up to avoid global embarrassment, with workers focusing on high-visibility areas while poorer neighborhoods endure chronic water shortages, power outages, and inadequate sanitation. Residents decry the efforts as superficial, exacerbating inequalities and ignoring deep-rooted issues like corruption, hijacked buildings, and 32% unemployment. The government promises the improvements as a benchmark for ongoing reforms, though locals remain skeptical of lasting change.