Page 44 - KZN Top Business Portfolio 2018

ETHEKWINI MUNICIPALITY

Mayor:
Cllr Zandile Gumede
www.durban.gov.za

THE MOST LIVEABLE CITY IN SOUTH Significant resources have been invested in
AFRICA infrastructure delivery in order to address service
delivery backlogs and this continues to be a major
The eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality is located area of capital spending in the municipal budget.
on the east coast of South Africa in the Province of Where necessary, the municipality assists deserving
KwaZulu-Natal. The municipality spans an area of residents through rates rebates and the provision of
approximately 2555km2 and is home to some 3.7 free basic services.
million people. Given its high variability, extent, EThekwini intends to have a world-class transport
population size and mix of social and economic land system with a public transport focus, providing high
uses, the eThekwini municipality can also be classified levels of mobility and accessibility for the movement
as one of the four city regions that plays an important of people and goods in a safe, sustainable and
role in contributing to the economy of the city, region affordable manner. The strategy focuses on reducing
and South Africa as a whole. overall demand for road space while maximising the
effective utilisation and efficient operation of road
EThekwini ranks as the second largest economic
centre with the second most significant industrial infrastructure for purposes of private and public
region in South Africa. The municipality is home to transport use. It also places an emphasis on strategies
Africa’s busiest port, Durban Port, Dube TradePort which support and use of public transport.
– a multimodal logistics platform and King Shaka Consequently, 2018 marks a significant milestone for
International Airport. These facilities provide vital links the City as the eThekwini Municipality prepares for the
between the regional economies of Pietermaritzburg much-anticipated start of service of the first route of
(and onward to Gauteng) and Richards Bay. the GO!Durban integrated public transport network
from Pinetown’s CBD to KwaMashu’s Bridge City.
The Metro is a substantial administrative centre,
providing key public services within the eThekwini Areas and precincts along the route have begun to
area as well as to the wider region. During the past six attract investors and interest in developments, as the
years, the municipality has experienced good progress transport network now has the potential to attract
towards ensuring good governance. critical mass to stimulate economic growth.
The city has identified a number of other catalytic
There is a realisation that being responsive to local projects in key areas within the integration zones to
conditions and demands is at the core of creating look at creative ways of utilising limited resources
effective and accountable governance that can to stimulate the economy. The provision of support
enable the municipality to change the socio-economic to facilitate investment into these key catalytic
conditions of its citizens. Reducing the increasing gap projects is a major drive. This relates to support for
between rich and poor and identifying sustainable the development of the Cornubia mixed use project,
livelihoods and economic opportunities that will act support to further development of Dube TradePort
as catalysts for economic growth, job creation and (DTP) and the Aerotropolis, facilitating of the phased
ultimately, greater sustainability and urban resilience provision of bulk infrastructure to support development
is essential. Consequently, the municipality has in the North, facilitation of the phased provision of
implemented a number of programmes to enable it to bulk Infrastructure to support development in the N3
listen to what people on the ground want and ensure Corridor (Shongweni; Hammarsdale; Cato Ridge), and
that policies respond to the needs of its citizens. the promotion of IT connectivity.
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