President Cyril Ramaphosa says the second phase of the Presidential eThekwini Working Group will prioritise economic development and infrastructure investment, as efforts continue to stabilise service delivery in Durban.
Ramaphosa established the working group two years ago to help the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality address persistent service delivery challenges and restore business confidence.
Addressing stakeholders at the Durban International Convention Centre on Tuesday, the president said there had been noticeable improvements, including increased investor and tourism confidence, ongoing infrastructure upgrades, enhanced safety measures and repairs to key industrial assets.
However, he cautioned that significant obstacles remain.
Ramaphosa noted that nearly two-thirds of surveyed business leaders still doubt whether service delivery complaints are resolved promptly. He identified environmental management, road maintenance and water supply as major areas of concern.
“Non-revenue water stands at 55 percent, far above acceptable benchmarks. This represents lost revenue, lost capacity and lost opportunity,” he said.
The second phase of the working group will focus on unlocking infrastructure investment, reducing bureaucratic delays, strengthening water security and revitalising the Durban city centre.
“The extension of the Presidential eThekwini Working Group as requested by the social partners, is both a vote of confidence and a recognition that the journey is not yet complete,” Ramaphosa said.
“Together, we can move eThekwini from stabilisation to catalytic growth. Together, we can protect its industrial base, modernise its infrastructure, secure its water future and restore its urban core.”
The renewed mandate signals a shift from emergency fixes to long-term economic recovery, as the city works to turn the corner from crisis management to sustainable growth.