Johannesburg’s high-security measures for the G20 Leaders’ Summit were tested on Friday night when a hijacker was shot and arrested during an attempted hijacking of a vehicle assigned to the summit.
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), officers from the National Intervention Unit (NIU) were on routine patrol in a G20-designated vehicle along Empire Road near Nasrec when a suspect suddenly emerged from the roadside, aiming what appeared to be a firearm at the driver.
“The assailant is believed to have intended to seize the high-level security vehicle, unaware that its occupants were heavily armed NIU officers,” said police spokesperson Brigadier Atlenda Mathe.
In an immediate response, an NIU officer fired a single shot, striking the suspect in the upper body and neutralising the threat. Police quickly secured the scene, later determining that the weapon pointed at the officers was an imitation firearm.
The wounded suspect was transported to hospital under police guard and is set to appear in court on an attempted hijacking charge. Police emphasised that under the Firearms Control Act, an imitation firearm used to intimidate or commit a crime is legally treated as a genuine weapon, making the suspect’s actions prosecutable.
The incident prompted a sharp warning from the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (Natjoints) to criminals and anyone attempting to test security measures. The organisation reiterated that all law-enforcement agencies are operating at maximum readiness to protect summit delegates and ensure stability across Johannesburg.
“Natjoints will deal decisively with any criminal element,” the structure said, underlining the scale of the security operation and its zero-tolerance stance.
Home Affairs Minister and G20 co-host Ronald Lamola described the summit as a “mission accomplished,” adding that global visitors had expressed admiration for South Africa.
“They love South Africa. They love our wine. They also know about biltong,” Lamola said. “It has been a good year. We are very glad that a South African government has delivered a progressive declaration that will revolutionise the African continent and how the Global South engages in the global economy.”
Addressing speculation around access to the closing ceremony, Lamola clarified that no country had been denied participation. “We did not deny anyone access. The United States is a member of the G20. If they want to be represented, they can send someone at the appropriate level. This is a leaders’ summit,” he said. Lamola added that President Cyril Ramaphosa would hand over to the US either at the Department of International Relations and Co-operation or wherever requested.
The G20 Summit declaration, under South Africa’s presidency, focused on global development challenges with a strong emphasis on Africa. It outlined a multi-faceted strategy centred on the principles of solidarity, equality, and sustainability.
During discussions, global leaders acknowledged that high levels of debt in African countries hinder inclusive growth and limit investment in development needs, particularly in low-income nations. They also highlighted the severe energy access deficit across the continent, where over 600 million Africans lack electricity and nearly 1 billion lack clean cooking access.
The G20 leaders endorsed recommendations from the South Africa G20 Africa Expert Panel, which called for amplified representation of the Global South in international institutions and a rethink of global financial systems to relieve the debt burden on developing countries. The report demanded bold multilateral action to transform Africa’s development trajectory, rejecting outdated paradigms that viewed African nations merely as exporters of raw materials.
Italy used the summit to announce its commitment to halving the debt owed by African countries over the next decade. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the country would ensure the debt of low- and middle-income nations is reduced by 50 percent.
Deputy head of the Russian Federation’s presidential administration, Maxim Oreshkin, stressed that the international economic order was in crisis and insufficiently responsive to global developments. “These days, global economies are experiencing severe fragmentation, which include sanctions, trade barriers and technological restrictions. This destabilises global architecture and holds back global growth and undermines the SDGS (sustainable development goals),” he said.
Oreshkin called for urgent attention to Africa’s growth needs, noting that weak institutions limit financial flows and that the continent’s total debt, according to the IMF, will reach three trillion dollars this year. “The World Bank has provided more aid to Ukraine in the past three years than all the African countries combined,” he said, urging the G20 to remain a multilateral platform capable of addressing Africa’s challenges.
The attempted hijacking, while foiled, serves as a stark reminder of the vigilance required to protect high-profile international events. Natjoints stressed that any criminal activity during the G20 period would be met with swift, decisive action, affirming South Africa’s commitment to the safety of world leaders and citizens alike.
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