Work to Restore eThekwini Progressing Well as Presidential Working Group Conducts Inspection

Durban: Plans are well on track to restore the eThekwini municipality as it aims to ensure that it attracts investors and tourists as well as improve service delivery for residents. This as the Presidential eThekwini Working Group (PeWG) undertook an Inspection in Loco across selected sites within the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality on Thursday. According to South African Government News Agency, the project is also aimed at restoring public confidence and service delivery in the metro. The group expressed satisfaction with the progress made in and around the city. Led by the Presidency under the leadership of the Director-General Phindile Baleni as the co-chair of the project, in partnership with the eThekwini Municipality, the visits assessed progress achieved so far. This is through coordinated interventions under the PeWG, with a focus on tourism revitalisation, inner-city regeneration, and key water and environmental infrastructure projects. Baleni explained that when the group began its work, the t ask was to move from frustration to focus, and talk to tangible action. 'As we would be aware, this project has been experiencing delays due to funding shortfalls. The PeWG hosted the Umlazi Canal Financing Workshop which discussed funding solutions to ensure this critical piece of work proceeds.' Baleni said the projects are proof that partnerships and collaboration do work. In his remarks, Micheal Mabuyakhulu, who is also the co-chair of the project, said the inspection is more than just about site visits, but an accountability exercise. 'It is about ensuring that the progress we report translates into visible change in the lives of the people we serve,' he said. Mabuyakhulu said over the past year and a half, the PeWG has evolved into one of the most effective collaborative platforms in the country. Vice-President of the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Kim Macllwaine, noted the projects will restore investor confidence in the metro. 'Progress has been made in the last 12 to 18 months of the Pres idential Working Group, I hope that confidence will increase in the future,' he said. In February 2024, President Cyril Ramaphosa, accompanied by the then Minister of Police Bheki Cele, the then Minister of Water and Sanitation Senzo Mchunu, Minister in the Presidency responsible for Electricity Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, and the then Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Sihle Zikalala, met with the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry and various social partners to discuss service delivery challenges in the metro. The Presidential eThekwini Working Group is co-chaired by the Director-General in the Presidency and Secretary of Cabinet, Phindile Baleni, and former KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Economic Development and Tourism, Michael Mabuyakhulu. The group is responsible for reporting progress on the implementation of turnaround strategies to the President and Ministers every three weeks. The learnings and outcomes of the Presidential eThekwini Working Group will inform similar interventions in other municipalit ies facing service delivery challenges. Thursday's inspection kicked off at Moses Mabhida Stadium, which is undergoing rehabilitation. The sites visited include the Umlazi Canal, Phoenix Industrial Park, and the revitalisation of the Rivertown and the old Post Office building project, showcasing the potential for urban renewal in eThekwini.