EThekwini Mayor Councillor Cyril Xaba led Executive Committee members on an oversight tour of catalytic projects in eThekwini. During the oversight visit the delegation met with developers and were provided with updates on progress made at the various developments. The R217 billion investment developments that are underway and those planned for the future, will boost investment and business confidence in eThekwini, having a positive impact on the local economy.


ETHEKWINI is set for billions of rands in investment from development projects that will catapult the City into a new era of prosperity. An equally impressive 300 000 jobs are expected to be created by these multibillion projects. EThekwini Mayor Councillor Cyril Xaba led the Executive Committee on an oversight visit to the City’s catalytic projects on 14 August, to be updated on the progress of the R217 billion investment developments that are underway and those still being planned. 

He traversed the length and breadth of the eThekwini region to view the 16 developments and sites at which future developments will be taking place. These catalytic projects will boost investment and business confidence in eThekwini, which has a major impact on the economy of the City and the KwaZulu-Natal region as a whole, creating thousands of jobs and boosting the City’s rates base. Beginning in the Durban CBD, the Mayor was briefed on the Centrum Site Development, Durban Bay Waterfront, the Point Waterfront, Rivertown, Durban Country Club, Beechwood, Virginia Airport and Durban Film City developments, each at a different stage of predevelopment facilitation. 

In the west, Mayor Xaba visited the Giba Business Park and Shongweni Developments. The Shongweni development is a R15 billion long-term investment which comprises nine precincts comprising of retail, residential, commercial, logistics, industrial and business park precincts. The development of the retail and lifestyle centre, Westown Square, kickstarted the development and interest in the region. Mayor Xaba was excited at the growth and potential of the outer western region, saying: “The transformation of the Shongweni region is something to look forward to in the future. The Westown Square development served to boost the confidence in the region and was followed by the investment of a R2 billion residential development by Balwin Properties. The 2 000 hectare development zone will create a new city in the west, which is rising from the dust.” In the northern region, Mayor Xaba visited the Avoca Node development and learnt of new investments on site.

The Avoca Development Node is a 15 -year programme consisting of three precincts; Brickworks, North Fields, and Caneridge measuring approximately 350 hectares in extent which has the potential capital investment of over R10.5 billion. The upgrade to the old North Coast Road is also underway to accommodate increased traffic in the area. Further north, in the oThongathi area, Mayor Xaba was briefed about the R6 billion Whetstone Business Park and further development in Cornubia, Dube Trade Port, Sibaya Coastal Precinct, and Oceans Mall. The Sibaya Coastal Precinct is situated in the North of Durban within the City’s Aerotropolis region. It consists of seven nodes of mixed-use developments with a range of land uses to contain offices, retail, restaurants, educational institutions, recreational opportunities and more, to complement a residential offering. The full development has an estimated investment value of R48 billion and will continue to 2036. It is expected that 70 000 jobs will be created. These catalytic projects and many other investment opportunities prove that Durban is a business destination of choice. 

Mayor Xaba said as the leadership of the City, they are thrilled by the developments that the City is implementing in collaboration with the private sector. “This indicates that the plans we have put in place to attract investment are yielding positive results. We are working hard not to prolong the R217 billion investment in catalytic projects that are in the pipeline. When cranes are swinging and yellow plant moving, people’s hopes are revived. We are happy that Durban has become a construction site and it clearly shows that we are open for business,” said Mayor Xaba.