G20 Leaders' Summit | Lesufi on the successful hosting of summit

The article is a transcript of an interview with the Premier of Gauteng Province, South Africa, following the successful G20 summit held in Johannesburg, which generated significant revenue and saw only 13 incidents due to heightened security. The Premier emphasizes an accelerated cleanup and beautification initiative for Johannesburg's CBD and streets, including fixing potholes, street lights, and reclaiming hijacked buildings, initially boosted for the summit but committed to sustaining long-term through ongoing meetings with mayors and national ministers. Safety measures, such as police vans at every offramp and high visibility, will continue, with cost models being developed with SAPS to ensure financial sustainability, including overtime and helicopter patrols, aiming for the lowest weekend crime stats. Efforts are expanding to 26 townships like Tembisa, Diepsloot, and Orange Farm, prioritizing law enforcement presence, deploying 23,000 CCTV cameras (mostly in high-crime areas), and providing 275 new vehicles to police stations to combat vandalism and improve response times. A short break is planned before Christmas, resuming January 2 for preparations for the larger LIV Golf event in March at Steyn City, which will attract international visitors via private jets. The Premier addresses resident concerns about inconsistent police visibility in townships, justifying it due to resource constraints but committing to enhanced deployment. On crime prevention wardens, the Public Protector has granted 180 days to regularize their status, with plans for training and accreditation to bolster township protection. Finally, responding to E. coli contamination concerns from a food supplier affecting hospitals like Charlotte Maxeke—where patients reportedly went hungry—an alternative plan has been endorsed: transporting uncooked food to hospital kitchens for on-site preparation to avoid water issues at the supplier, while the problem in Soweto is being fixed. The interview highlights a proactive provincial strategy for infrastructure, safety, and public health, with future discussions planned on policing costings.