By: Yaseen Theba, Director of Vision Tactical
South Africa’s successful hosting of the G20 was not merely a diplomatic accomplishment, it was a national stress test. And we passed it with force. Over the past days, as our country welcomed 45 world leaders and thousands of delegates, we demonstrated something South Africans are far too often denied: efficient coordination, decisive action, and an uncompromising commitment to safety.
From the outside, the world saw a well-managed summit. But from the inside, from those of us in operations centres, on the ground, in the convoys and on the perimeters, we saw the truth: South Africa can deliver excellence when it chooses to. No excuses, no delays, no “system challenges.” Just results!
Under the country’s G20 presidency, the global agenda focused on “Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability,” but the real impact was local and immediate:
- Roads were repaired.
- Public spaces were cleaned.
- Shelters were revived to support vulnerable communities.
- Law-enforcement and private security operated as a single, coordinated ecosystem.
- Emergency services, metro police, intelligence units and municipal teams delivered with accuracy and urgency.
Many will claim these were merely cosmetic upgrades for visiting dignitaries, but the reality is far more revealing — they prove South Africa’s true operational capability when the willpower is present.
As Vision Tactical and our partners worked across high-density nodes, VIP corridors and strategic zones, one fact became impossible to ignore: If we can secure thousands of world leaders under intense global scrutiny, we can, AND MUST, secure our own communities every single day.
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During the summit, crime-prevention efforts weren’t theoretical. They were active, coordinated and effective, The Proactive hotspot patrols, Intelligence-driven deployments, Fast-response capability around key routes, Joint SAPS–Metro–Private Security operations and Real-time situational awareness through integrated operations centres demonstrated this.
This is not an ideal. This is the standard South Africa has already proven it can achieve.
Every South African deserves the same level of protection and presence we provided to international dignitaries. Anything less is a choice, not a limitation.
For years, South Africans have been told that service delivery is difficult, roads take months to fix, crime is too complex, and resources are too limited. The G20 exposed those narratives for what they are: excuses.
When the stakes are high, South Africa moves. And it moves fast, efficiently and collaboratively. The summit revealed a country that can:
- Clean its streets
- Fix its roads
- Restore order
- Coordinate across agencies
- Keep people safe
Not in theory — in practice. We’ve seen it.
The only question now is whether we allow this momentum to collapse, or whether we insist on turning it into the everyday reality citizens deserve.
The G20 delivered a clear, practical blueprint for modern crime prevention:
- Integrated command centres
- Intelligence-led policing
- Visible presence in high-risk areas
- SAPS-private security partnerships formalised and strengthened
- Seamless inter-agency communication
- High-speed tactical response
- Supported shelters and social-relief pathways
- Clean, lit, actively monitored public spaces
This cannot be a once-off performance. This must become the national baseline.
The legacy of the G20 should not be a collection of photos, speeches or commemorative pins. The legacy must be a new non-negotiable expectation:
As Director of Vision Tactical, I’ve seen the power of genuine partnership between SAPS, metro police, emergency services and private security. When we operate as one, crime drops, trust grows, and communities feel protected.
If we could roll out the red carpet for the world, we can absolutely roll it out for South Africans.
The G20 must not stand as a once-off achievement. It must mark the moment when South Africa recognised its true ability and refused to settle for mediocrity ever again.
We have already proven that we can protect the world’s leaders. Now we must protect our own citizens with the same discipline, urgency and resolve.
The mission is clear: turn the G20 standard into the South African standard.
The original post can be found here. Image credit: Athi Geleba.
