Dada Morero calls on G20 Summit to support urban infrastructure improvements
Mayor Dada Morero urged G20 to back cities as Joburg races to fix infrastructure ahead of summit.
Image: Itumeleng English/Independent Newspapers
Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero closed the Urban 20 (U20) Summit on Sunday with a strong call for global leaders to formally recognise cities as key players in solving global challenges — not just implementers of national policy.
Addressing the last day of the summit, Morero said the U20 Communiqué — a collective resolution adopted by global city leaders — sends a clear message to the G20: cities need direct funding, stronger partnerships, and a greater role in shaping global decisions.
“The U20 Communiqué is more than words. It is a call to action, a demand that the G20 recognise the indispensable role of cities,” Morero said.
The resolution outlines three core priorities: unlocking predictable, needs-based financing for cities; scaling collaboration across governments and regions; and ensuring that policies and investments prioritise vulnerable communities through inclusive housing, climate action, and green job creation.
Morero highlighted that finance was the foundation of delivery, calling on G20 leaders to back a “just transition” finance model that supports local infrastructure, affordable housing, energy access, and public services.
However, Johannesburg itself faces serious infrastructure and service delivery problems ahead of the G20 Summit in November.
Potholes, broken traffic lights, frequent water outages, and ongoing power supply issues have raised concerns about the city’s readiness to host world leaders.
Crime and urban decay in parts of the inner city have also drawn criticism.
In response, Morero has launched a dedicated task team, dubbed the “Bomb Squad”, to fast-track repairs and unblocking service delivery bottlenecks across the city.
“What we do for G20 must outlast the summit,” said Morero. “This is about creating real, lasting improvements for our residents.”
Johannesburg is investing in road resurfacing, water infrastructure upgrades, and restoring critical street lighting and traffic signals along key G20 routes.
But residents remain skeptical about whether the changes will benefit the broader city or only areas visible to global delegates.
As the host of the G20, Johannesburg carries both symbolic and practical responsibility.
Through the U20, Morero and other city leaders said urban governments must be equipped and empowered to lead from the front.
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