eThekwini Unlocks Strategic Investments

EThekwini Municipality is intensifying efforts to remove administrative and regulatory barriers to major private developments, reinforcing Durban’s position as South Africa’s leading metropolitan economy for job creation.

Through a targeted intervention led by the Office of the City Manager, the Municipality is actively monitoring and unblocking 20 strategic investment projects across the metro, with half already fully resolved.

Regional resolution rates highlight this progress standing at 100% in North Central, 86% in the North, 67% in the Outer West, and 25% in the Central region. By systematically clearing operational obstacles, the City is enabling private capital to flow more swiftly into the local economy.

This administrative drive complements strong macroeconomic performance confirmed by Statistics South Africa’s Q2 2026 Labour Force Survey.

EThekwini recorded an unemployment rate of 21.2%, well below the national average of 33.6%. Year-on-year, employment in the metro grew by 90,000 while unemployment fell by 92,000, delivering a statistically significant 5.6 percentage point reduction in the unemployment rate.

Key industrial sectors continue to underpin this expansion.

Over the past nine months, transport and logistics added approximately 44,000 jobs, accounting for nearly all sectoral growth in KwaZulu-Natal, while finance and business services contributed a further 25,000 positions.

Crucially, formal-sector employment grew by 149,000, signalling a decisive shift towards stable, formal work opportunities.

While these recent unblocking milestones provide momentum for future quarters, the Municipality’s proactive stance ensures Durban maintains the frictionless operating environment required to attract sustained private investment and keep the local economy moving forward.