President Cyril Ramaphosa has lauded business leadership in KwaZulu-Natal for standing firm alongside government during severe crises, including the July 2021 civil unrest and the devastating April 2022 floods.
The President delivered the keynote address at the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s 170th Annual Gala Dinner in eThekwini, on Wednesday evening.
“This tribute would not be complete without recognising the leadership of the Chamber after the unrest of July 2021. We were determined to rebuild. The Chamber was at the forefront of that effort. It mobilised the business community, supported businesses that had been badly affected and worked with government to restore economic activity.
“Barely nine months later, this province was struck by catastrophic floods. Once more, the Chamber stepped forward. We worked together – government, business and other social partners – to repair infrastructure, support distressed businesses and restore operations at the Port of Durban.
“A great strength over all these years has been the Chamber’s willingness to rally in the face of uncertainty. This is evident in its commitment to partnering with government,” President Ramaphosa said.
The Chamber has also collaborated with government for the Presidential eThekwini Working Group (PeWG), which is aimed at resolving challenges in the metro, including interruptions to water supply, poorly maintained and damaged infrastructure due in part to the 2022 floods, decline in tourism numbers to the city, port efficiency concerns and crime.
“The progress made through the working group is due in large measure to strong political and administrative leadership from the municipality and the province and the active engagement of national departments and public entities.
“Vitally, the progress is also due to the involvement of key partners and stakeholders, and central among these is the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
“Through this partnership, we have seen improved metrics in areas such as municipal utility collections, non-revenue water and spending on repairs and maintenance,” the President said.
He acknowledged that despite this progress, service delivery challenges – particularly with water – continue to “hold back recovery”.
“There is still a significant infrastructure backlog that is constraining greater investment and better services for the people of the city.
“That is why we commend the eThekwini Metro Council on the adoption of the Development and Service Delivery Partnering Policy Framework in response to concerns about the delays and red tape associated with implementing public-private partnerships.
“We now need to put that framework to use to implement key infrastructure projects.
We need to take forward the work to revitalise the city’s manufacturing and industrial zones and reduce the costs of doing business,” he said.
Economic momentum
Turning to the economic indicators, the President highlighted that eThekwini secured the lion’s share of the R124.5 billion in investment commitments made at the recent KwaZulu-Natal Investment Conference.
The investment commitments span manufacturing, automotive, infrastructure, logistics and tourism.
The tourism economy of eThekwini is also on the rebound.
“Nationally, tourism numbers are up. Much of this growth is being led by KwaZulu-Natal and Durban. Last festive season, around 1.2 million visitors came to the city. This year, Durban was ranked 14th in Time Out’s Best Places to Travel in 2026.
“The city has become a sought-after host for major events, including Africa’s Travel Indaba and the 46th SADC Summit this year,” President Ramaphosa noted.
Additionally, data from Statistics South Africa’s latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey also confirms that the Metro achieved the lowest unemployment rate among South Africa’s eight metropolitan municipalities.
“It was also the only metro to record a decrease in unemployment both quarter-on-quarter and year-on-year.
“Employment in the metro now stands at 1.29 million, around 90,000 more than a year ago. It is significant that more jobs are being created here,” President Ramaphosa said.
Progress at the Durban Gateway Terminal – one of the busiest in Sub-Saharan Africa – is also underway.
“Security incidents and cable theft on the network have declined. Transnet is procuring additional security to protect the central corridor that feeds the Port of Durban.
“The latest World Bank and S&P Global Container Port Performance Index has named the Port of Durban the most improved port in the world,” he said.
Disruptions at the terminal following the migration of the terminal operating system are being addressed following a meeting between the Minister of Transport and terminal management.
“The signs of Durban’s recovery are clear. They paint a picture of a city regaining its momentum. That is owed in no small part to the hard work, perseverance and commitment of the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
“This progress must be sustained and built upon as we work together to resolve outstanding challenges,” President Ramaphosa said. – SAnews.gov.za
