South Africa has deployed 3,500 additional police officers and put army units on standby as Johannesburg prepares to host this weekend’s Group of 20 (G20) summit. Authorities conducted a parade Wednesday featuring helicopters, K-9 units, and motorbike officers to display readiness for anticipated protests.
The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure, which coordinates police, military, and intelligence services, is leading security efforts. Deputy National Commissioner Lt. Gen. Tebello Mosikili said protests will be permitted, but only within legal bounds. Designated areas near the summit venue, a convention center next to South Africa’s largest soccer stadium, have been set aside for demonstrators. Airports have “speakers’ corners” for protests as leaders arrive.
The two-day summit, beginning Saturday, will host leaders from over 40 countries, as well as officials from institutions including the UN, World Bank, IMF, and WTO. Planned demonstrations span a wide range of issues: anti-capitalism, climate change, women’s rights, and anti-immigration. Women for Change is calling for a national work boycott Friday to protest South Africa’s high femicide rate, while anti-immigration groups and climate activists plan rallies highlighting unemployment, poverty, and inequality. A coalition of activists will also hold an alternative summit in Johannesburg, criticizing the G20 as a “gathering for the rich.”
The summit has sparked controversy over South Africa’s affirmative action policies. Afrikaner trade union Solidarity has erected billboards claiming the country is “the most RACE-REGULATED country in the world,” sparking diplomatic tension and a boycott by U.S. President Donald Trump, who alleges the Black-led government discriminates against Afrikaners—a claim widely dismissed as unfounded.
Authorities have also launched extensive clean-up and infrastructure repair operations ahead of the summit. President Cyril Ramaphosa personally joined the effort in Soweto last week. While officials emphasize the importance of presenting Johannesburg positively, some residents remain skeptical of the summit’s benefits for ordinary citizens, citing chronic infrastructure issues and service failures.
