{"id":29161,"date":"2025-09-15T13:03:46","date_gmt":"2025-09-15T11:03:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/?p=29161"},"modified":"2026-03-12T09:51:16","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T07:51:16","slug":"g20-leaders-to-back-gautengs-urban-development","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/g20-leaders-to-back-gautengs-urban-development\/","title":{"rendered":"Dada Morero Calls on G20 Leaders to Back Gauteng\u2019s Urban Development"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero urged the G20 world leaders to see cities as more than implementers of national policy, calling for direct funding and stronger powers in shaping global decisions. Closing the Urban 20 (U20) Summit in Sandton, Morero stressed that cities like Johannesburg sit at the cutting edge of global challenges \u2014 from climate change to poverty \u2014 and must be equipped to drive solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>ALSO READ: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/j20-summit-2025\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">G20 2025: J20 Summit 2025 Advancing Global Policy Reform and Collaboration<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-a-clear-message-to-the-g20\">A Clear Message to the G20<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The U20 Communiqu\u00e9, unanimously adopted by city leaders worldwide, delivers a sharp message to the G20: cities need sustainable financing, stronger partnerships, and greater authority in policymaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe U20 Communiqu\u00e9 is not a declaration. It is a call to action \u2014 a call for the G20 to recognise the pivotal role that cities have,\u201d Morero said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The resolution set out three priorities:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Unlocking accessible, needs-based financing for cities<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Strengthening cooperation across all levels of government<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Prioritising vulnerable communities with inclusive housing, climate action, and green jobs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Morero reminded leaders that finance underpins delivery. He pushed for a \u201cjust transition\u201d finance model to channel investment into local infrastructure, affordable housing, clean energy, and stable public services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-2278439551\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-g20-summit-a-summit-on-african-soil\">G20 Summit: A Summit on African Soil<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For the first time, the U20 took place on African soil. South Africa and Gauteng used the opportunity to put African cities firmly on the global agenda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWith the U20 hosted in Africa for the first time ever, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to prove that cities are not junior partners but principals of world politics,\u201d Morero said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He added that Johannesburg carries a dual burden: hosting a successful summit while showing real progress on the ground before the G20 Leaders\u2019 Summit in November.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-tshwane-joins-the-fray\">Tshwane Joins the Fray<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Tshwane Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya, who co-chaired the summit, amplified Morero\u2019s call. \u201cOur task is to ensure that the voice of Africa is sharpened and heard clearly when we present our joint contribution to the G20 in November,\u201d Moya said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She highlighted R86 billion in investment pledges secured at Tshwane\u2019s investment summit as evidence that cities can mobilize resources when they take bold initiative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOur approach reflects our belief that cities must take responsibility for raising capital to drive infrastructure growth,\u201d she explained. \u201cWe are committed to building the infrastructure our people need to live with dignity, travel safely, and grow our local economies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Moya criticized the common gap between vision and resources. \u201cToo often, municipalities have the will but not the money. We cannot allow this to limit us anymore. That is why we are bringing investors directly to the table,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-2306822940\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-johannesburg-s-challenges-in-the-spotlight\">Johannesburg\u2019s Challenges in the Spotlight<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While Morero championed cities on the global stage, Johannesburg\u2019s local struggles remain glaring. The city still battles broken infrastructure and poor service delivery, from potholes and malfunctioning traffic lights to frequent water and power cuts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Crime and urban decay in parts of the inner city have also raised doubts about Johannesburg\u2019s readiness to host the G20 Summit in November.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In response, Morero announced a \u201cBomb Squad\u201d task team tasked with fast-tracking repairs and unblocking service delivery failures. \u201cWhat we do for G20 must last longer than the summit,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is about making real, lasting improvements for our residents.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Projects already underway include road resurfacing, water upgrades, and restoring streetlights and traffic signals along major routes. But many residents question whether these upgrades will reach neglected communities or remain limited to areas visible to global delegates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-the-u20-matters-in-light-of-the-g20-summit\">Why the U20 Matters in Light Of The G20 Summit <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The U20 Summit exists to bring the voices of mayors and cities into G20 discussions. For Morero and Moya, this means ensuring African cities aren\u2019t sidelined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cLet us use this moment to remind ourselves that cities are not only the site of global challenges but the source of global solutions,\u201d Morero said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Moya added: \u201cWe cannot afford to waste this moment. We are determined to use this platform to ensure that Africa is not spoken about but spoken with.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-98670328\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-a-gauteng-watershed\">A Gauteng Watershed<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For Gauteng, the summit goes beyond diplomacy. It represents a chance to a<a href=\"https:\/\/iol.co.za\/g20\/gauteng\/2025-09-13-joburg-and-tshwane-mayors-urge-g20-summit-to-amplify-african-city-voices\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ttract the investments needed to transform<\/a> crumbling urban infrastructure and build cities that work for their residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Energy security, affordable housing, climate resilience, and inclusive growth all depend on municipalities having the resources to act. Without it, Gauteng risks falling further behind its global peers, leaving millions trapped in cycles of poor service and inequality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-from-words-to-action\"> From Words to Action<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The U20 Summit has ended, but its message to the G20 is clear: empower cities, fund local solutions, and put communities at the center of development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The task is simple but urgent: hold leaders accountable, support community projects, demand transparency, and push for investments that uplift every corner of the province. Urban development cannot remain a promise on paper \u2014 it must become a reality in safer, more liveable cities for all.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero urged the G20 world leaders to see cities as more than implementers of national policy, calling for direct funding and stronger powers in shaping global decisions. Closing the Urban 20 (U20) Summit in Sandton, Morero stressed that cities like Johannesburg sit at the cutting edge of global challenges \u2014 from climate<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":29163,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_focus_keyword":"","rank_math_title":"","rank_math_description":"Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero urged the G20 world leaders to see cities as more than implementers of national policy, calling for direct funding and stronger...","footnotes":""},"categories":[521],"tags":[528,1663],"class_list":{"0":"post-29161","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-g20","8":"tag-johannesburg-mayor-dada-morero","9":"tag-south-africa-u20"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29161","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/23"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29161"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29161\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29164,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29161\/revisions\/29164"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29163"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29161"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29161"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29161"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}