Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis Offers to Host G20 Amid Johannesburg’s Infrastructure Woes
Cape Town Bids for G20: Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has urged President Cyril Ramaphosa to relocate the upcoming G20 Leaders’ Summit from Johannesburg to Cape Town, citing the Mother City’s superior infrastructure, service delivery, and urban management. This follows Ramaphosa’s sharp criticism of Johannesburg’s governance failures, financial mismanagement, and crumbling infrastructure.
Ramaphosa’s Concerns Over Johannesburg
On Thursday, President Ramaphosa addressed the Johannesburg council, where he met with Mayor Dada Morero and Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi. The president did not hold back in his assessment of Johannesburg, highlighting persistent service delivery failures, crime, and infrastructure decay as major concerns ahead of the G20 summit in November 2025.
“There are recurring problems in Gauteng. Some of these include governance failures, financial mismanagement, crumbling infrastructure, crime, and unreliable service delivery,” Ramaphosa stated.
He also noted that previous G20-related meetings held in Johannesburg were underwhelming, stressing that South Africa must present an event that “wows” the international community.
Cape Town’s Bid to Host the G20 Summit
Seizing the opportunity, Mayor Hill-Lewis swiftly responded to Ramaphosa’s concerns, positioning Cape Town as a viable alternative to host the prestigious summit.
“Mr. President, you can be assured that Cape Town is ready at any time to host the G20 Leaders’ Summit and represent South Africa with pride on the global stage,” Hill-Lewis declared.
He emphasized Cape Town’s thriving Central Business District, well-maintained roads, working traffic lights, and world-class conferencing facilities. He also pointed out that the city recently hosted the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting, demonstrating its capability to organize high-profile international events.
Cape Town’s Infrastructure vs Johannesburg’s Struggles
Cape Town has significantly invested in its infrastructure, approving a record R39.5 billion budget over three years—more than the combined infrastructure budgets of Gauteng’s three metros. Hill-Lewis contrasted this with Johannesburg’s infrastructure backlogs, power outages, and water supply issues, arguing that Cape Town is better positioned to ensure a seamless and world-class G20 Summit.
“If the challenges in Johannesburg prove insurmountable between now and the November G20 Summit, you can count on Cape Town to perform ‘country duty’ and host a successful summit,” he added.
Will Ramaphosa Consider the Move?
While Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi acknowledged Johannesburg’s challenges and apologized for Ramaphosa’s disappointing experience, he insisted that the province remains committed to improving conditions before the summit.
The Presidency has yet to respond to Hill-Lewis’ proposal, but the debate over the summit’s location has sparked national interest, raising questions about whether South Africa’s largest city can successfully host a high-profile event of this magnitude.
With just over a year left before the G20 Leaders’ Summit in November 2025, pressure is mounting on Johannesburg’s leadership to urgently address the city’s infrastructure issues. If it fails, Cape Town stands ready to step in.
Also read: President Ramaphosa Urges G20 Unity to Tackle Global Crises Amid Rising Tensions with US
