eThekwini Municipality unblocks strategic investments in Durban

The eThekwini Municipality is working to remove administrative and regulatory barriers to facilitate major private developments in Durban. Led by City Manager Musa Mbhele, the municipality is monitoring 20 strategic investment projects, with 50% of identified blockages already resolved.

Regional resolution rates vary, with 100% of blockages resolved in the North Central region, 86% in the North, 67% in the Outer West, and 25% in the Central region. The municipality aims to clear operational obstacles to encourage the flow of private capital into the local economy.

This administrative push follows positive macroeconomic data from Statistics South Africa’s Q2 2026 Labour Force Survey. The metro reported an unemployment rate of 21.2%, significantly lower than the national average of 33.6%. Over the past year, employment in the metro grew by 90,000, while unemployment decreased by 92,000.