G20 Leaders' Summit | GP generated around R3bn from summit

South Africa became the first African nation to host the G20 leaders summit at the NASREC Expo Centre over the weekend, marking a historic event. Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi expressed disappointment over security incidents targeting international delegates, including pickpocketing of Vietnamese representatives' cell phones and luggage at Checkers in Sandton City Mall, leading to the swift arrest of four suspects due to enhanced security measures. Additional arrests occurred: one at the Da Vinci Hotel for unlawful firearm possession, and two at the More Hotel in Ferndale for stealing a South African Police Service (SAPS) firearm and possessing ammunition, highlighting effective rapid response systems. Lesufi outlined key lessons from the summit, such as inadequate language interpretation services beyond English, which overstretched resources and left non-English speakers unsupported, and insufficient multilingual road signage, complicating navigation for delegates. The MEC for Finance and Economic Development announced that details on job creation—approximately 200,000 jobs in the past year, surpassing other provinces—would be provided in the upcoming mid-term budget statement. The event is expected to inject around R3.6 billion into the economy, with broader G20-related activities since January (starting from the bidding process in Brazil) boosting tourism and investment. Preliminary economic figures for the weekend will be shared soon, followed by a comprehensive report in mid-January on the national tourism impact. Overall, the summit not only drew a significant influx of visitors but also spurred demand for future investments in the province.