South Africa's Presidential eThekwini Working Group reports progress

Deputy President Paul Mashatile has commended the progress made by the Presidential eThekwini Working Group (PeWG) following a meeting at the eThekwini City Hall in KwaZulu-Natal. Established in April 2024 through an agreement between President Cyril Ramaphosa and the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the group aims to tackle critical issues including water supply interruptions, aging infrastructure, declining tourism, crime, and port inefficiencies.

The PeWG recently provided updates on progress and proposed interventions for its second phase. While noting improvements in service delivery and business confidence, the group highlighted ongoing safety concerns in the PINK areas—Phoenix, Inanda, Ntuzuma, and Kwa-Mashu. The PeWG has called for a South African Defense Force intervention in these specific areas, similar to recent deployments used to address unrest elsewhere in the province.

Deputy President Mashatile emphasized that creating a safe and well-managed city center is essential to demonstrating that eThekwini is open for business and committed to inclusive growth.