Johannesburg mayor Dada Morero has insisted that the city’s intensified clean-up and repair drive will continue after the G20 Leaders’ Summit, rejecting claims it is a short-lived campaign to impress foreign dignitaries. He said the inner-city push is “not cosmetic or temporary” and forms part of a broader Joburg service delivery turnaround.
Morero said groundwork for the programme began when the city adopted its budget in June, with full implementation starting on 2 October. City teams now rotate across all regions, carrying out weekly inspections focused on pothole repairs, stormwater maintenance and other “high-impact service delivery” tasks. “The focus really is to create a city that is safer and clean for all our residents and citizens,” he said.
Responding to criticism online, Morero wrote on X: “I do not sleep. I do not intend to do so until we reclaim Johannesburg,” arguing that the pace of work will remain the same after the summit.
He also said beautification near the summit venue relied on existing city resources, keeping extra costs “not significant”.
Long-term Plans, Management Fixes and Funding
Morero said Joburg service delivery gains only became visible mid-year, after months of work to resolve management blockages and stabilise the mayoral committee. While he believes political stability has helped officials “focus on one objective”, he acknowledged that internal supervision and systems still require attention.
He added that the local clean-up links to wider economic reforms. Johannesburg used recent urban forums, including the Urban 20 in September, to push for debt reform and more development finance, with proposals now before the national government. Morero said investment must support South African manufacturing and jobs, and pledged that the city “will not go back” from its current trajectory.
Support, Scepticism and Opposition Response
Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi has backed the campaign, saying the province has been preparing for months and will continue weekly coordination meetings with national ministers after the summit to sustain Joburg service delivery improvements.
The DA remains unconvinced. Provincial leader Solly Msimanga accused the provincial government of staging a temporary clean-up, calling assurances of uninterrupted water and electricity during the G20 “a slap in the face” for residents who still face chronic service failures.
