Gauteng govt suspects a 'syndicate' is stealing its road infrastructure

JOHANNESBURG - With the Gauteng government scrambling to ensure Johannesburg is ready to host the upcoming G20 summit, it suspects there is a "syndicate" stealing its road infrastructure.

Johannesburg has been chosen as the host city for the G20 Summit, which will see heads of state from across the world congregate for talks on the world’s economic issues.

The Gauteng government held a media briefing on Wednesday to update the public on its state of readiness.

The Gauteng government has joined hands with all the metros in the province, which will be hosting the G20.

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So far, streetlight repairs are 74% done, traffic signals are at 50% and 40% of road markings scheduled for refreshing are done.

However, Transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela said the department was potentially being sabotaged.

"There is that suspicion that perhaps there is a syndicate working on stealing and vandalising our infrastructure, and the premier has established a unit that deals with investigations of infrastructure vandalism in our province and we are also beneficiaries of that work as roads and transport, because we are mostly affected."

The Gauteng government claims it has repaired 97% of all potholes in the municipalities that will participate in the G20, including Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni.