The decision to select Nasrec as the venue for the upcoming G20 summit, rather than Sandton, has generated some controversy, with concerns raised about Nasrec's suitability, with some calling it a “cold, industrial site” unfit to represent the country to first-time visitors and world leaders.
Another view is that the government should be open to considering other venue options, including Durban and Cape Town, to showcase the best of our country.
The G20 comprises 19 countries, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Türkiye, the United Kingdom, and the United States and two regional bodies, namely the European Union and the African Union.
The group of countries seeks to find solutions to global economic and financial issues.
With G20 Summit preparations in full swing, Joburg Mayor Dada Morero has expressed confidence that the city has the capacity to ensure a successful event, citing its experience hosting major gatherings.
Yet, as the countdown continues, a pressing question lingers: can Nasrec steer clear of the logistical and operational challenges that have marred past events at the venue?
This concern stems from previous ANC conferences at Nasrec, where delegates endured hours-long accreditation delays due to faulty registration systems, power supply threats from load shedding, and logistical snags ranging from vendor disputes to overcrowding.
At one point, even unpaid contractors made headlines after claiming they were left out of pocket. While these glitches were tolerated in a domestic political setting, they could have far more damaging consequences when the world’s most powerful leaders converge on Nasrec for the G20.
Another major challenge facing the city is its ongoing water crisis. In areas such as Coronationville, Soweto, Protea Glen, and Diepkloof, residents have repeatedly staged protests over prolonged water shortages, barricading roads with burning tires and stones to demand a reliable supply.
Despite these challenges, Morero emphasised that multiple meetings have been held and continue to take place, leading up to the G20 Summit, to address critical technical, safety, water, and electricity concerns. These efforts aim to ensure that service delivery to communities remains uninterrupted during and after the event.
“We have an eye on the ball. The teams are working to make sure everything runs smoothly, and we’ve already hosted meetings that allowed us to test the scale of the summit and assess the city’s readiness,” he said.
To tackle Johannesburg’s mounting infrastructure and service delivery issues ahead of the G20, Morero recently launched the “bomb squad”.
ANC Veterans League President Dr. Snuki Zikalala leads the team.
Morero had added that while some work still needs to be done to ensure Johannesburg is fully prepared, creating a welcoming environment for international guests remains a key priority.
Back in May, the Cabinet spokesperson and Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, announced Nasrec’s selection for the G20 Summit during a briefing at a Cabinet meeting.
She had emphasised that although the centre was constructed in 1984 to reinforce apartheid segregation, the democratic government has continued to develop the precinct as a “bridge against apartheid spatial planning.”
“Therefore, the hosting of the G20, like many other events, in the Nasrec precinct continues to contribute to making Nasrec a symbol of spatial integration towards an equal South Africa,” Ntshavheni stated.
While some political parties acknowledged that South Africa has a track record of successfully hosting high-risk international events without major security or logistical incidents, others questioned whether Nasrec was the right venue for the G20.
Mbahare Kekana, ActionSA’s Acting President, stressed that hosting the G20 must transcend party politics and instead be used as a platform to showcase South Africa’s role and standing in the global system.
He described the summit as a form of soft diplomacy that ought to be leveraged strategically, warning that Nasrec, widely associated with ANC gatherings and past logistical mishaps, sends the wrong message.
Kekana stressed that if Sandton was deemed unsuitable for reasons yet to be explained, government should have considered alternatives like Durban or Cape Town, which offer more scenic and globally appealing venues, rather than opting for what he called a “cold, industrial site” unfit to represent the country to first-time visitors and world leaders.
“Hosting the G20 is a soft diplomacy tool that must be deployed with great effect. Government should have considered alternatives like Durban or Cape Town instead of opting for a cold, almost industrial venue that has nothing to scenically showcase the best of our country,” Kekana said.
ActionSA’s national director of communications and parliamentary operations, Matthew George, echoed the concerns, stressing that the decision-making process lacked transparency. He said the sudden venue switch raised serious questions about the government’s motives. George was adamant that Nasrec was not a suitable venue for the G20.
“The government should change the venue back to Sandton. There is no other solution.”
BOSA spokesperson Roger Solomons criticised the city’s state of infrastructure, arguing that Johannesburg is ill-prepared to host major international events due to years of mismanagement by the ANC.
“Johannesburg is falling apart. The roads, water supply, facilities, and the list goes on. The ANC has run the city into the ground to the point that it is now incapable of holding international events. It is an insult to the residents of Johannesburg that there is now a scramble to make it look somewhat decent for the G20 summit,” Solomons said.
While RISE Mzansi welcomed the chance for South Africa to host world leaders, noting the country’s track record in managing high-risk international events securely and efficiently, it urged the government to demonstrate the same commitment to security and service delivery for all South Africans every day, not just when international events are on our doorstep, the party spokesperson Mabine Seabe concluded.
The Star