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Gauteng Touts G20 Windfall, Acknowledges Crime Incidents and Strained Infrastructure

Premier Panyaza Lesufi says revenue figures remain preliminary, with continued heightened security contingent on funding.

Overview

  • Lesufi reported roughly R1 billion in weekend takings from the summit, with consolidated estimates still being tallied in a R1 billion to R3 billion range.
  • Most hotels and inbound flights were reported full, and tourist sites in Soweto, Magalies and Sandton were busy with visitors.
  • Police made 1,799 arrests in the week before the summit and dealt with an alleged trespass attempt by Operation Dudula at the Nasrec Expo Centre.
  • Officers responded to several incidents, including pickpocketing of a Vietnamese delegation with four arrests, a firearm case at the Da Vinci hotel, a robbery of a police officer at the Mercure with two arrests, and an attempted robbery of a police vehicle using a toy gun.
  • Heavy rain exposed potholes and knocked out traffic signals in places as officials pledged repairs and weighed keeping an elevated police presence, with the broader post-summit service delivery timeline still unclear.