Durban’s turnaround is gathering real momentum. The Presidential eThekwini Working Group (PeWG) has reported significant progress across infrastructure, economic and water security initiatives — headlined by Toyota South Africa Motors’ reaffirmed investment of R10 billion in its eThekwini manufacturing plant to produce the next generation of the Toyota Hilux.
The updates were presented at the PeWG’s July co-chairpersons meeting, where workstreams outlined advances achieved through collaboration between the Presidency, national government and the eThekwini Municipality.
Investment and Infrastructure Moving Together
The Toyota commitment signals continued investor confidence in the city’s automotive sector — and the working group is moving to protect that industrial heartland. Following a high-level financing workshop convened by the Presidency, stakeholders have finalised the scope of a R310 million feasibility study for the Umlazi Canal upgrade, which will assess flood-risk reduction measures and blended public-private financing for an eventual R4.5 billion canal infrastructure overhaul in the South Durban Basin.
On the roads, the multimillion-rand rehabilitation of Everton Road has been completed, restoring an essential suburban-business artery, while SANRAL is overseeing 18 community development projects worth R391.5 million along the N2 and N3 corridors. The eThekwini Integrated Public Transport Network remains on track for its planned launch in December 2026.
Winning the Water Battle
There is encouraging news below the streets too. The eThekwini Water and Sanitation Unit has established its turnaround and governance frameworks, supported by leak detection, valve maintenance and customer data cleansing. Those interventions have already cut non-revenue water by three percentage points — tangible progress on one of the metro’s toughest challenges, with the trend pointing in the right direction.
‘The President Is Pleased’
PeWG Chairperson Mike Mabuyakhulu said President Cyril Ramaphosa has welcomed the improvements being made in eThekwini through the initiative.
“We regularly report to the President on the progress made each month. I must say that the President is pleased and is closely monitoring the work we are doing in Durban against the 18-month target, which runs until late 2027,” Mabuyakhulu said.
The working group has also formally transitioned its Partnerships Framework into a new Economic Development Workstream to strengthen collaboration with the private sector, and has begun integrating its functions into the District Development Model, with a planned handover by November 2027 — a sign that the special intervention is designed to leave lasting capability behind.
By systematically removing legislative, financial and logistical bottlenecks, the PeWG says it is supporting efforts to restore Durban’s full economic potential — and this month’s scorecard suggests the plan is working, according to SAnews.
Photo: commons.wikimedia.org
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