Anti-capitalists, climate activists, women’s rights advocates, and anti-migrant groups plan demonstrations and highlight South Africa’s struggles with poverty and inequality.
South African police and army units staged a parade on Wednesday with helicopters, K-9 teams, and motorcycle officers to display strength before expected protests during this weekend’s G20 summit in Johannesburg.
Authorities deployed 3,500 additional police officers and placed the army on standby under the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure, which unifies police, army, and intelligence units under one security command for major events.
Deputy national commissioner for policing Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili informed reporters that officials anticipate protests in Johannesburg and other major cities.
She affirmed that officials will permit demonstrations within legal limits and proper guidelines.
Police designated specific gathering zones for protesters near the summit venue, located beside the country’s largest soccer stadium.
Airports Company South Africa established “speakers’ corners” in airports and will escort demonstrating travelers to those spaces when world leaders arrive.
Activists from multiple groups intend to raise concerns about South Africa’s poverty and inequality during the summit.
A trade union representing South Africa’s Afrikaner white minority caused controversy by placing billboards across Johannesburg declaring the country “the most RACE-REGULATED.”
City authorities removed one billboard, prompting the union Solidarity to threaten legal action.
The billboards reference affirmative-action laws that expand opportunities for Black citizens and have fueled diplomatic tension between South Africa and the United States.
US President Donald Trump chose to boycott the G20 summit after alleging that South Africa’s Black-led government enforces racist, anti-white policies and violently targets the Afrikaner minority.
Many leaders have dismissed his accusations as unfounded, yet the boycott threatens to weaken the first G20 summit held in Africa.
Other organisations aim to use the event to highlight different social issues.
The Women for Change advocacy group urged a nationwide shutdown on Friday, the day before the summit.
The organisation encouraged women to stay away from work to protest South Africa’s extreme levels of violence against women and femicide.
The group stated that the country cannot claim progress while women die at such staggering rates.
An anti-immigration movement announced plans to protest unemployment and poverty, noting South Africa’s unemployment rate of 31 percent as one of the world’s highest.
A coalition of climate and inequality activists arranged an alternative summit beginning Thursday in another part of Johannesburg, declaring the G20 gathering an event “for the rich.”
Mounting Tensions Surrounding the Summit
Johannesburg authorities launched a large cleanup and infrastructure repair campaign before the summit to address the widespread deterioration affecting the city.
President Cyril Ramaphosa joined the cleanup last week and worked in green overalls in Soweto, located only a few miles from the summit site.
Many Johannesburg residents expressed cynicism toward the multimillion-dollar effort for a two-day political event.
They noted continual problems such as broken streetlights, damaged roads, and failing services that cause water and electricity outages.
Resident Lerato Lelusa stated that hosting the G20 offers little benefit to ordinary South Africans and wastes public money.
Leaders Gather Despite Public Discontent
The two-day summit begins on Saturday and will attract leaders and senior diplomats from more than 40 countries.
Representatives from major global institutions, including the United Nations, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Trade Organisation, will also attend.
