ETHEKWINI NEWSFLASH
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CITY WELCOMES IMPROVED BUSINESS CONFIDENCE IN MUNICIPAL RESPONSIVENESS AND INTENSIFIES SERVICE DELIVERY INTERVENTIONS
EThekwini Municipality welcomes the findings of the Durban Business Confidence Index (DBCI) for the second quarter of 2026, which indicate a measurable improvement in business perceptions regarding the Municipality's responsiveness to service delivery complaints.
The report notes that while service delivery remains a challenge, the proportion of respondents who believed that the Municipality is unlikely to address complaints within a reasonable timeframe declined from 77.4% in the first quarter of 2026 to 71.2% in the second quarter. This improvement reflects the impact of ongoing interventions being implemented by the Municipality to strengthen service delivery systems, improve turnaround times and accelerate infrastructure rehabilitation across the city.
The Municipality acknowledges the concerns raised by the business sector regarding roads, environmental management, water supply and public safety. These areas remain at the centre of the City's service delivery improvement programme and form part of a coordinated strategy to enhance Durban's competitiveness as a leading investment and tourism destination.
The report further revealed that the DBCI declined substantially from 50.63 in the first quarter of 2026 to 48.82 in the second quarter of 2026. This shows that the index has dropped below the neutral zone, although it remains above the national index.
“We conclude that factors beyond the city level largely drove the drop in business confidence. These reflect the escalating, volatile geopolitical tensions and the ongoing immigration protests,” the report reads.
Roads Infrastructure Rehabilitation
Roads were identified as the service area of greatest concern among survey respondents. In response, the Municipality has significantly increased its investment in road maintenance, rehabilitation and resurfacing programmes across the city.
Through the Roads and Stormwater Maintenance Programme, priority routes used by businesses, logistics operators and public transport have been earmarked for accelerated repairs.
The Municipality continues to implement pothole repair campaigns, road resurfacing projects and stormwater infrastructure upgrades to improve mobility, reduce congestion and support economic activity. Additional resources have also been deployed to strengthen routine maintenance and improve response times to reported road defects.
Building on the success of the Inner-City Regeneration Programme, the Municipality continues to prioritise strategic infrastructure investments that drive economic growth, improve service delivery, and create a more liveable urban environment for residents.
The allocation of R128 million towards the upgrade of the inner-city road network underscores the Municipality’s commitment to restoring critical infrastructure, enhancing mobility and connectivity, and supporting a vibrant local economy that attracts investment and creates sustainable employment opportunities.
Environmental Management Improvements
The Municipality recognises concerns relating to environmental management, including sewerage systems, solid waste removal and the maintenance of public open spaces.
To address these challenges, eThekwini has intensified sewer network maintenance, blockage clearing operations and pump station refurbishment programmes to improve the reliability of wastewater services.
The City has also strengthened waste collection operations through fleet renewal initiatives, enhanced monitoring systems and targeted interventions in identified service delivery hotspots.
In the current financial year, the City has budgeted R92 million towards enhancing its Waste Management fleet and supporting critical operational projects to ensure a cleaner, healthier environment for all residents.
Furthermore, the Municipality continues to invest in beautification programmes, park rehabilitation and environmental management initiatives aimed at improving the urban environment and supporting tourism and investment growth.
Water Supply and Infrastructure Renewal
Water security remains a strategic priority for the Municipality. Significant work is underway to address ageing infrastructure, reduce water losses and improve network reliability.
The Municipality has accelerated pipe replacement programmes, reservoir upgrades and leak detection initiatives across the city. Collaborative efforts with relevant stakeholders continue to strengthen water resilience and ensure sustainable access to water for residents and businesses.
Several capital projects currently being implemented are expected to further improve system efficiency and reduce service interruptions over the medium to long term.
EThekwini Water and Sanitation (EWS) is implementing a comprehensive turnaround strategy and institutional governance reform roadmap aimed at strengthening operational capacity, improving service delivery, and enhancing management effectiveness.
With support from National Treasury, EWS has already achieved several key milestones under its Water Turnaround Strategy. These achievements include critical infrastructure upgrades, increased budget allocations, and improved reliability of the bulk water supply network.
Strategic projects such as the Southern Aqueduct are progressing well and are expected to secure a reliable bulk water supply network for more than 1.2 million residents.
EWS is also implementing a range of interventions to improve water provision across all affected areas. These include upgrading water pipelines to larger diameters to accommodate population growth, as well as initiatives aimed at reducing water losses and improving system efficiency. During the current financial year, EWS aims to deliver 4,000 new water connections, reduce non-revenue water to 48.6%, and ensure that 95% of all water connections are metered.
The 2026/27 budget allocates R995 million towards sanitation infrastructure and services, while R495.7 million has been allocated to water infrastructure and service improvements.
Enhancing Public Safety
Public safety remains a key focus area for the Municipality. Through Metro Police, Fire and Emergency Services and partnerships with law enforcement agencies, the City continues to enhance crime prevention initiatives, emergency response capabilities and community safety programmes.
Additional investments in technology, surveillance systems, visible policing and disaster management interventions are being deployed to improve safety and create an enabling environment for business growth and investment. To enhance public safety across Durban, the City has invested R162.7 million in the current financial year in programmes implemented by the Durban Metro Police, Fire and Emergency Services, Disaster Management, Security Management Services, and the Safer Cities programme.
Sustaining Electricity Reliability
The Municipality notes the positive assessment of electricity services in the survey, with only 1.4% of respondents identifying electricity supply as a major concern. This reflects the resilience of Durban's electricity network and the efforts undertaken by the Municipality to maintain infrastructure reliability and ensure stable power supply.
The continued suspension of national loadshedding since March 2024 has provided further certainty to businesses and residents, supporting economic activity and operational continuity across the city.
The Municipality’s Marketing and Communications Director Mandla Nsele said the Municipality remains fully committed to addressing service delivery challenges and strengthening partnerships with the business community.
“The Municipality values feedback from organised business formations and residents, as it assists in identifying priority areas requiring intervention. We will continue implementing targeted programmes, monitoring performance and accelerating infrastructure investment to improve service delivery outcomes, create an enabling environment for economic growth and enhance the quality of life for all residents. We acknowledge that challenges remain, but the improved perception regarding the Municipality's responsiveness demonstrates that our interventions are beginning to yield positive results,” said Nsele.
ENDS
Issued by eThekwini Municipality’s Marketing and Communications Directorate
