Reflecting on Run Your City

EThekwini Municipality successfully hosted the ABSA Run Your City Durban race this past weekend, welcoming more than 12 000 runners from across South Africa and the African continent while showcasing Durban as a clean, safe and world-class destination for major sporting events.

To support the event, the Municipality implemented extensive cleansing operations before, during and after the race.

Dedicated teams ensured the route remained clean throughout the event and immediately restored streets and public spaces once the final participants had passed, demonstrating the City’s ability to deliver efficient waste management services during major events.

The event also highlighted the significant progress achieved through the Municipality’s Inner City Regeneration Programme over the past two years.

Daily cleansing operations, strengthened law enforcement, infrastructure repairs, the rehabilitation of problem buildings and improved urban management have transformed the City’s appearance, restoring confidence among residents, businesses, investors and visitors.

As part of the regeneration programme, 11 problem buildings have been refurbished by their owners, six have been demolished, including a major high-profile site, and 16 have undergone structural repairs to improve safety and habitability.

Urban improvement precincts such as Rivertown have further enhanced the revitalisation of the Durban CBD, while the refurbishment of public ablution facilities has improved cleanliness and the overall visitor experience.

The Municipality’s strategic partnership with Ensure Ubuntu has also produced measurable improvements in public safety.

Through the deployment of street ambassadors supported by rapid response teams, visible serious crime has been reduced by 28 percent, while emergency response times have improved by 19 percent.

These achievements reflect the Municipality’s ongoing commitment to keeping eThekwini clean, safe and welcoming throughout the year.

Waste management and cleansing teams are deployed daily across the City to maintain public spaces and create a healthy environment for residents and visitors alike.

Maintaining a clean city, however, is a shared responsibility.

The Municipality calls on residents, businesses and visitors to support its efforts by disposing of waste responsibly, refraining from littering and illegal dumping, and placing refuse out for collection only on the morning of their scheduled collection day.

EThekwini Municipality remains committed to investing in clean, well-maintained public spaces and delivering quality Municipal services.

By working together, residents, businesses and the Municipality can protect the environment, improve public health, strengthen tourism and economic growth, and ensure that eThekwini remains a clean, vibrant and welcoming City for all.