Overview
- Premier Panyaza Lesufi said preliminary tourism data shows about R1 billion generated over the weekend, with provisional investment estimates between R1 billion and R3 billion.
- Most hotels and inbound flights were reported full and major attractions were busy, with officials touting the exposure as positioning Gauteng for future events.
- Authorities reported 1,799 arrests in the week before the meetings, and police handled an alleged trespass attempt by Operation Dudula at Nasrec.
- Incidents included pickpocketing of Vietnam’s delegation at Sandton City with four arrests, a firearm seizure at the Da Vinci hotel, a robbery of a police officer at the Mercure with two arrests, and an attempted highway robbery using a toy gun.
- Lesufi acknowledged rain‑damaged road repairs and widespread traffic‑light failures, noted that key sites were kept powered, and said SAPS has been asked for a cost model to assess sustaining elevated services alongside bids to host events like LIV Golf 2026 and 2027 Cricket World Cup matches.