The eThekwini Presidential Working Group in KwaZulu Natal says it is satisfied with the progress that has been made in various multi-million-rand developments in and around the city, although some are far from completion.

The working group, which was established 18 months ago, is aimed at improving service delivery and infrastructure in order to attract investments.

The wide inspection included the Moses Mabhida Stadium and critical water and environmental infrastructure projects, such as the Southern Aquaduct and the Umlazi Canal Expansion project.

The next stop for the PeWG delegation was the Umlazi Canal that is responsible for protecting Prospecton and Isiphingo – one of South Africa’s most critical industrial zones as it houses major logistics and manufacturing plants. pic.twitter.com/zpJnqe5Zv8

— GCIS_KwaZulu-Natal (@GCIS_KZN) November 13, 2025

The group’s co-chair is Mike Mabuyakhulu says, “It is our responsibility to ensure that momentum is not lost. We appreciate that we could not have done all of the projects and the things that we wanted to do just over a year and a half but yes, we are laying a very solid ground for the community. These inspections they give us a moment to listen, provide directions to technical teams to strengthen coordination is where it remains. It’s also allows us to celebrate the commitment with our partners, particularly business, its partnership and participation is critical for the success of the presidential working group.”

The Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry says Durban has lost several medium businesses to neighbouring cities and towns in the province due to on-going challenges of water, sanitation and electricity distribution.

The chamber today joined the eThekwini Presidential Working Group which inspected the progress at various major projects.

The inspections were also conducted at the new Southern Aquaduct and the Umlazi Canal Expansion project. The two projects once completed are said to eliminate the city’s water woes.

The Presidential eThekwini Working Group (PeWG) today undertook an inspection in loco on Thursday, 13 November 2025, visiting key sites across the ⁦@eThekwiniM⁩ ⁦@PresidencyZA⁩
DG Baleni on stage delivering welcome remarks ⁦@GCIS_KZN⁩ ⁦⁦@DurbanChamber⁩ pic.twitter.com/CNovxSG7mj

— GCIS Media Liaison (@GCISMedia) November 13, 2025

The chamber’s CEO Palesa Phili explains.

“Most of them have moved to areas like Ilembe or the Northern parts as well as the southern parts of the province. The main issue just to add on it is water sanitation and distribution of electricity. Distribution of electricity play a critical role because we cannot be affording to be having cards especially in industrial areas where you have dips of electricity on and off. This cost a lot of money, it creates a lot of issues for the quality of the work that needs to be produced in those markets.”

Meanwhile, vice-president of the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Kim Macllwaine says despite the challenges in Durban, investor and business confidence remain steady.

“The confidence index picked at 63% a year ago it has dropped like a year ago. it has drop slightly. I think that is because the national economy is growing at 1%. That is not a very positive environment for business generally. If we can communicate clearly how much progress have been made in the last 12 to 18 months of the presidential working group, I hope that confidence will increase in the future.”

Macllwaine adds, “Looking at the tourism side the beaches are clean the beachfront is clean and safe for tourism season has kicked off well. We look out for a great tourism season coming up. I think they put positive signs to the future.”