ETHEKWINI NEWSFLASH
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CITY ENGAGES WITH BUSINESS SECTOR ON 2026/27 DRAFT IDP/BUDGET
EThekwini Mayor Councillor Cyril Xaba has commenced a series of consultations with key stakeholders on the Draft 2026/27 Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and Budget.
Kicking off these consultations, Mayor Xaba engaged with representatives from the business sector at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre this morning, 13 April.
A strong turnout of business leaders attended the session to gain insight into the Draft Budget and its potential impact, while also providing valuable input to the City.
The total Draft Budget for 2026/27 comprises of a capital allocation of R5.9 billion and an operating budget of R68.8 billion. It is geared towards building a resilient and inclusive economy that supports business development and job creation.
Mayor Xaba expressed appreciation for the participation by the business community. “Your input is important and critical to us. It has been a challenging budget to balance, given the global and domestic economic climate. We have placed a strong focus on upgrading infrastructure, accelerating service delivery, and investing in catalytic projects, particularly those that create employment,” he added.
The budget introduces a range of initiatives aimed at stimulating economic activity and enhancing the ease of doing business. Key focus areas include infrastructure improvement, support for small, medium, and micro-sized enterprises (SMMEs), and digital transformation to modernise Municipal services and improve efficiency.
In partnership with the private sector, several large-scale developments are underway, including the Durban Film City, TradePort expansion initiatives, and various nodal developments. These projects represent a combined investment value of approximately R217 billion and are expected to significantly boost the Municipal rates base while creating thousands of employment opportunities.
Following the presentation, stakeholders were invited to provide feedback. While many welcomed the budget, others raised concerns relating to tariff increases, road and stormwater infrastructure, tourism development, the Go!Durban project, and the inclusion of local SMMEs in procurement processes.
Mayor Xaba reaffirmed the City’s commitment to working closely with the business sector to unlock economic opportunities, improve service delivery, and position eThekwini as a leading investment destination.
Upcoming sector engagements will include traditional leadership, ratepayer associations, and the disability sector.
ENDS
Issued by eThekwini Municipality’s Marketing and Communications Directorate
