The eThekwini Municipality has welcomed an improvement in business confidence regarding its responsiveness to service delivery complaints, despite an overall decline in business sentiment during the second quarter of 2026.
According to the latest Durban Business Confidence Index (DBCI), the proportion of respondents who believed the municipality was unlikely to address service delivery complaints within a reasonable timeframe, declined from 77.4% in the first quarter of 2026 to 71.2% in the second quarter.
The municipality said the improvement reflects the impact of interventions aimed at strengthening service delivery systems, improving response times and accelerating infrastructure rehabilitation across the city.
However, the report showed that overall business confidence weakened during the quarter, with the DBCI declining from 50.63 in the first quarter to 48.82 in the second quarter, placing the index below the neutral zone, although it remained above the national index.
According to the report, the decline was largely driven by factors beyond the municipality's control.
"We conclude that factors beyond the city level largely drove the drop in business confidence. These reflect the escalating, volatile geopolitical tensions and the ongoing immigration protests," the report reads.
Road infrastructure emerged as the biggest concern among survey respondents, followed by environmental management, water supply and public safety.
In response, the municipality said it has intensified road maintenance, rehabilitation and resurfacing programmes, including pothole repairs, stormwater infrastructure upgrades and improvements to priority transport routes used by businesses and public transport.
The city is also investing R128 million in upgrading the inner-city road network as part of its infrastructure renewal programme.
To address environmental management challenges, the municipality said it has stepped up sewer maintenance, pump station refurbishment, and waste collection operations, while allocating R92 million this financial year to strengthen its waste management fleet and support critical operational projects.
The municipality continues to invest in beautification programmes, park rehabilitation and environmental management initiatives aimed at improving the urban environment and supporting tourism and investment growth.
On water services, the municipality said it is accelerating pipe replacement, reservoir upgrades, and leak detection programmes as part of a broader turnaround strategy for eThekwini Water and Sanitation (EWS).
Among the key infrastructure projects is the Southern Aqueduct, which is expected to strengthen bulk water supply to more than 1.2 million residents. The city has allocated R995 million to sanitation infrastructure and services and R495.7 million to water infrastructure improvements in the 2026/27 financial year.
During the current financial year, EWS aims to deliver 4 000 new water connections, reduce non-revenue water to 48.6%, and ensure that 95% of all water connections are metered.
The municipality also highlighted ongoing investments in public safety, including R162.7 million allocated to Durban Metro Police, Fire and Emergency Services, Disaster Management, Security Management Services, and the Safer Cities programme.
Additional investments in technology, surveillance systems, visible policing and disaster management interventions are being deployed to improve safety and create an enabling environment for business growth and investment.
Sustaining electricity reliability
The DBCI found that electricity supply remains one of the municipality's strongest-performing services, with only 1.4% of respondents identifying it as a major concern.
The municipality said continued suspension of national load shedding since March 2024 has provided further certainty to businesses and residents, supporting economic activity and operational continuity across the city.
Municipal Marketing and Communications Director Mandla Nsele said the city remains committed to addressing service delivery challenges, while strengthening partnerships with the business community.
“The municipality values feedback from organised business formations and residents, as it assists in identifying priority areas requiring intervention. We will continue implementing targeted programmes, monitoring performance and accelerating infrastructure investment to improve service delivery outcomes, create an enabling environment for economic growth and enhance the quality of life for all residents”, Nsele said.
Nsele acknowledged that challenges remain but said the improved perception of the municipality's responsiveness demonstrates that current interventions are beginning to yield positive results. – SAnews.gov.za
