eThekwini Municipality invests R260m in informal trading infrastructure

The eThekwini Municipality has committed approximately R260 million toward capital projects spanning the 2024/25 to 2026/27 financial years. This investment aims to upgrade informal trading infrastructure, improve working conditions for traders, and expand economic opportunities within the city.

At the fifth eThekwini Informal Economy Summit, Mayor Cyril Xaba emphasized the sector's importance to local livelihoods. Data from Statistics South Africa indicates that roughly 260,000 people in eThekwini work in the informal sector, with approximately 75,000 specifically engaged in informal trade. The city reported an unemployment rate of 21.2% in the second quarter of 2026, the lowest among South Africa’s metropolitan municipalities.

Completed projects highlighted during the summit include the Mansel Road Market and the Lucky Mngwengwe Traders Precinct. The initiative also focuses on township economic development, spaza shop funding, and providing better banking solutions for small-scale businesses.