/ MEDIA STATEMENT / The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

The Executive Mayor of Johannesburg, Cllr Kabelo Gwamanda, has cancelled his scheduled trip to the Russia-Africa Summit currently taking place in St Petersburg, Russia. The cancellation has been necessitated by the ongoing work to respond and recover services following the gas explosion that occurred on Bree Street last week Wednesday. The Executive Mayor having considered the priorities of the City and the coalition has decided to recuse himself from the Summit.  

“The Russia-Africa Summit is a critical engagement and as a city, we were humbled to be invited to participate and to showcase our City as a leading and vibrant centre of investment and development on the continent.”  

“The invitation was evidence of the significance of Johannesburg to the continent and the global economy and would’ve presented an opportunity for the City to once more take its rightful place in global socio-economic and political discourse” said Mayor Gwamanda.  

The Executive Mayor was meant to depart with a high-powered delegation to Russia in order to strengthen city to city relations that would be a foundation for foreign investment. The City of Johannesburg remains an attractive investment destination, ready for investment and collaborations to enhance the City’s development and economic growth.  

The Executive Mayor is currently convening a series of meetings with the Joint Operations Committee (JOC) and the Technical team with regards to the progress made thus far and will continue having more of these briefs and site assessments on a regular basis.  

"This was an unscheduled occurrence and must therefore be treated with the urgency it deserves, life as we know it is at stake, and the sooner we get to the root cause and find permanent solutions, the sooner the lives of our people can go back to normal along with the hustle and bustle of the CBD as we know it" concluded Mayor Gwamanda.  

Issued by The City of Johannesburg