The business sector has welcomed interventions by eThekwini Municipality to unlock major infrastructure projects and to repair bulk infrastructure that was damaged during the April and May floods.

 

Speaking at the annual CEOs Forum that took place today, 22 September at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, eThekwini Mayor Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda said the City remains committed to maintaining bulk infrastructure and improving cleanliness in the inner city and secondary CBD areas.

 

He assured business stakeholders that the City is stable, functional, and financially sustainable and was confident that the appointment of City Manager Musa Mbhele will continue to entrench stability in the administration. 

 

He said this will bode well for good governance and quality service delivery.

 

The annual CEOs Forum provides a platform to build, strengthen, and sustain collaborations and partnerships with business with a focus on actionable insights to address challenges and to ensure an encouraging economic and investment climate in the City.

 

Mayor Kaunda recognised the private sector and civil society organisations for collaborating with government following the floods earlier this year.

 

The floods in April and May caused extensive damage to property and infrastructure, severely disrupting critical business operations with an economic impact estimated to be close to R1 billion in loss to the eThekwini GDP.

 

However, the City has worked tirelessly to ensure that basic services were restored in many areas as quickly as possible with an improvement in water supply of over 80 percent in all regions except in areas such as oThongathi where repairs of the water treatment plant are underway.

 

The City together with the SANDF, SANRAL and the provincial Department of Transport are finalising all repair work to strategic and economic routes particularly the N2, M4, and M7 which were badly damaged.

 

Through the District Development Model, the Municipality is working tirelessly to unlock some of the major infrastructure projects which have the potential of injecting much-needed investment into the City.

 

“This year we have seen the opening of the Radisson Blu Hotel which is part of the R4.2 billion Oceans uMhlanga Development. Last month we launched the first phase of the R32 billion Ntshongweni Urban Development,” added Mayor Kaunda.

 

Other investments the City has facilitated this year include:

 

● R120 million chemical plant at the Dube Trade Port

● R331.3 million industrial engineering and project management services firm in uMhlanga

● R58.3m outsourcing and offshoring consulting expansion in Mt Edgecombe

● R44.5m sales, marketing, and support establishment in uMhlanga Rocks

● R125.8m investment into sales, marketing, and support in Pinetown

● Sales, marketing, and support in central Durban by a Swiss firm.

 

Reiterating that eThekwini is open for business, Mayor Kaunda called on businesses to work with the City to rebuild to ensure eThekwini remains a preferred destination for investment.

 

Mayor Kaunda also highlighted the City’s efforts to fight crime and grime with the recruitment of more than 200 Metro Police officers currently being finalised which is part of an ongoing recruitment programme with a target of 5000 law enforcement officers.

 

The City has also recruited 300 street ambassadors under the Public Employment Programme to support the inner-city regeneration teams to enforce trading by-laws, ensure public safety, target bad buildings, and waste management by-laws.

 

Mayor Kaunda touched on the adverse effect load shedding has on businesses and the economy.

 

“As part of our efforts to improve energy security in the Municipality, Council adopted the Energy Transition Policy last year. This policy paved the way for the City to procure 400 MW of alternative energy (300 MW gas and 100 MW solar) from Independent Power Producers,” he said.

 

The programme included presentations by Prof. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa from the Presidency on infrastructure, investments and the potential of eThekwini Metro followed by presentations by eThekwini senior management on other interventions the City is implementing to create a conducive environment for business to operate and thrive.

 

ENDS

 

Issued by the eThekwini Municipality’s Communications Unit. For media enquiries contact the Municipality’s Spokesperson, Msawakhe Mayisela on 060 966 4220.