Asimile Siyaqhuba - Empowering The Youth As The Nation's Future Leaders

 

ASIMILE SIYAQHUBA: EMPOWERING THE YOUTH AS THE NATION’S FUTURE LEADERS

EThekwini Municipality has made youth development a strategic priority through the work of its Youth Development Office, which operates within the Mayoral Parlour.

Highlighting the gains made to empower young people in the City is the Five-Year Service Delivery Milestones campaign being rolled out under the theme Asimile Siyaqhuba: Resilience Through Adversity.

The campaign highlights transformative efforts that have shaped service delivery during the 2021 to 2026 term of office.

The Youth Development Office continues to play a pivotal role in empowering young people socially, academically, and economically. Through a range of targeted interventions, the office is helping to build a generation of confident, skilled, and self-reliant young residents.

HONOURING TOP MATRIC LEARNERS

One of the office's most celebrated initiatives is the annual Matric Awards Ceremony, held at the beginning of each year. The event recognises academic excellence among matric learners across eThekwini.

The programme honours the Top 20 matric achievers, comprising the Top 10 overall best-performing learners in the metro and an additional Top 10 learners from previously disadvantaged backgrounds.

Each of the Top 20 achievers receives a full bursary to pursue studies at a South African university of their choice, in any field of study. Many beneficiaries go on to enrol in scarce and critical skills programmes, contributing to the country's future workforce needs. The Municipality invests close to R1 million annually to support students throughout their tertiary education journey.

BACK-TO-SCHOOL SUPPORT

Through its Back-to-School Programme, the Youth Development Office assists learners from disadvantaged communities by providing essential educational resources.

The programme supplies learners with calculators, mathematical sets, school shoes, dignity packs, toiletries, and sanitary products for female learners. During the 2025/26 financial year alone, more than 1 500 learners from 30 schools around the Municipality benefited from the initiative.

STUDENT RELIEF FUND

The office also has a Student Relief Fund that assists deserving students with registration and admission-related costs, including upfront fees required by tertiary institutions.

During the 2025/26 financial year, approximately R1.3 million was allocated towards this programme, helping young people take their first steps towards obtaining qualifications and securing better opportunities for the future.

 

BUSINESS CHALLENGE

Every June, as part of Youth Month celebrations, the Youth Development Office hosts a Business Challenge aimed at supporting young entrepreneurs whose businesses have been operating for more than a year. The Municipality, along with its partners provide practical business resource vouchers that contribute directly to business growth and sustainability.

Under the programme, the top three entrepreneurs receive business support resources valued at approximately R70 000 collectively, while a further 17 participants share resources worth around R170 000.

YOUTH TALENT SHOW

The Youth Talent Show is an annual programme that creates opportunities for young people to showcase their creative abilities. Through this platform, young people gather to present their talents in various categories, with the winner appointed as the “ambassadors” of the Youth Development Office. Previous winners have gone on to make a name for themselves in the creative space.

Furthermore, throughout the year, the Youth Development Office delivers a variety of projects and empowerment initiatives, including sports tournaments, career expos, leadership development programmes, skills development workshops, and community-based interventions designed to equip young people with the tools needed to succeed.

IMPACT OF PROGRAMMES

Speaking about the impact of these programmes, Youth Development Office Manager Nokuthula Hlophe said the Municipality remains committed to ensuring that young people are equipped with the tools and opportunities needed to succeed while eThekwini Mayor Councillor Cyril Xaba said investing in young people remains one of the Municipality's most important priorities.

Asimile Siyaqhuba - Five Years of Advancing Clean, Sustainable, and Resilient Communities

 

Waste Management Directorate: Five Years of Advancing Clean, Sustainable, and Resilient Communities

Over the past five years, the Waste Management Directorate has made significant strides in delivering efficient, reliable and sustainable waste management services across the City. Highlighting these gains is eThekwini’s Five-Year Service Delivery Milestones campaign being rolled out under the theme: Asimile Siyaqhuba: Resilience Through Adversity.

The campaign highlights the gains made in ensuring efficient and effective service delivery during the 2021 to 2026 term of office.

As the leading provider of comprehensive waste solutions, the Waste Management Directorate operates an extensive network comprising of 32 depots, six transfer stations, four landfill sites, 22 garden sites with selected public recycling drop-offs, two landfill gas projects, and three leachate treatment plants. This robust infrastructure enables the delivery of essential services to residential, industrial, and commercial customers.

The directorate has consistently provided weekly refuse collection services to over one million households, meeting key service delivery objectives while maintaining high standards of cleanliness. City streets are serviced daily, with the central business district cleaned up to three times per day, supported by high-pressure washing and mechanical sweeping operations. Recognising the unique challenges within informal settlements, the directorate has worked closely with contractors to ensure weekly collection and street sweeping services in these areas.

Illegal dumping continues to pose challenges; however, it is being addressed proactively through the Illegal Dumping Eradication Programme. This programme is implemented through co-ordinated joint operations and dedicated enforcement efforts. In many instances, the City has partnered with stakeholders such as Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa to rehabilitate affected sites through environmental restoration initiatives, including tree planting, thereby enhancing environmental integrity and community wellbeing.

Over the past five years, substantial volumes of waste have been collected annually, contributing to cleaner, healthier, and safer urban spaces. Continuous operational improvements and strengthened regional co-ordination have further enhanced service delivery across all areas of the City.

Beyond waste collection, the directorate has prioritised environmental education and meaningful community engagement. Programmes such as the Back-to-School initiative and the introduction of “Nono,” the City’s waste awareness mascot, have encouraged learners to adopt responsible waste practices from an early age. Public awareness campaigns, including #BinIt, have further promoted proper waste management and sustainability, fostering a culture of environmental responsibility within communities.

Sustainability remains central to the directorate’s mission. Recycling programmes and waste diversion initiatives form the foundation of the directorate’s transition towards a more circular waste economy. Concerted efforts have been made to reduce the volume of waste sent to landfill, supporting broader environmental and climate objectives. E-waste and bulk waste drives have provided residents with safe and environmentally compliant disposal options for electronic and bulky household items. These initiatives have helped curb illegal dumping, promote recycling and resource recovery, and advance the vision of a cleaner, healthier City for all residents.

The directorate also manages four strategically located landfill sites that collectively receive approximately 900 000 tonnes of general waste annually, ensuring environmentally responsible disposal and compliance with regulatory standards. Ongoing investment in infrastructure and technology has strengthened operational capacity, while maintaining strict adherence to environmental legislation and best practice standards.

Resource optimisation through route balancing and the implementation of fleet management best practices has enhanced operational resilience, improved fleet utilisation, and ensured service continuity across all service areas.

The directorate has also led numerous community engagement initiatives, school programmes, and clean-up campaigns aimed at promoting responsible waste management, environmental stewardship, and sustainable practices aligned with the National Waste Management Strategy.

The past five years have represented a period of strategic investment, operational enhancement, and unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability, service excellence, and community partnership.

A particularly encouraging development is the directorate’s recent participation in the Metro Trading Services Reform Programme, through which a comprehensive Turnaround Strategy has been developed. This strategy entrenches a long-term, integrated approach to substantially reduce waste, modernise collection systems, and reinvigorate the recycling sector.

Asimile Siyaqhuba - Driving Technology Forward In The City

 

DRIVING TECHNOLOGY FORWARD IN THE CITY

THE INFORMATION Technology Directorate of eThekwini Municipality plays a critical role in shaping the City’s digital future. Its mandate focuses on developing and promoting an Information Communications Technology (ITC) vision that addresses current challenges while enabling long-term growth. Highlighting the technological goals made by the directorate is eThekwini’s Five-Year Service Delivery Milestones campaign being rolled out under the theme: Asimile Siyaqhuba: Resilience Through Adversity. The campaign highlights transformative efforts that have shaped service delivery during the 2021 to 2026 term of office.

Key strategic priorities include building a paperless environment, ensuring secure and integrated data management, and strengthening reliable ICT infrastructure, including cloud solutions. A central focus of the directorate is the use of Geographic Information Systems, which helps address issues and supports the vision of transforming eThekwini into a modern digital hub for future generations. The Public Wi-Fi Programme forms a central pillar of the City’s Digital Inclusion Strategy and Smart City agenda being driven by the Information Technology Directorate. Director of the Information Technology Directorate Robert Dlamini said over the past five financial years, the Public Wi Fi Programme has significantly expanded equitable internet access across municipal wards. The eThekwini Public Wi-Fi Programme has delivered measurable, city-wide digital inclusion progress. With 75 percent of the strategic target achieved and 98 percent ward-level reach established, the programme remains a critical enabler of social equity, economic participation, and digital transformation within the City.

Strategic Target

The approved long-term strategic target for the programme is 750 public Wi-Fi Sites across the Municipality. This target aligns with a minimum of three sites per municipal ward, the deployment within high-footfall public facilities, prioritisation of underserved and previously disadvantaged communities and the expansion of affordable digital access across all 110 wards.

Infrastructure Growth and Progress

Currently 565 active Public Wi-Fi Sites have been installed (cumulative to date). Dlamini said this represents substantial progress toward universal ward level coverage and positions the Municipality as a leading implementer of municipal digital infrastructure within the province.

Expanding Digital Infrastructure

To date, the Municipality has installed 1 633 enterprise grade Wi-Fi access points across both indoor and outdoor environments. These access points are strategically deployed in high-demand areas to support reliable, high-capacity connectivity for residents and visitors alike.

Accessible Community Connectivity

Public Wi-Fi has been deployed at key locations that support daily life and economic activity, including:

           ·          Municipal libraries

           ·          Sizakala Centres

           ·          Clinics and healthcare facilities

           ·          Schools and community halls

           ·          Sports grounds and public parks

           ·          Tourism hubs such as beachfront areas

           ·          Market precincts and transport nodes

           ·          Key economic corridors, including Florida Road.

Empowering Residents Through Free Access

A key feature of the programme is its free data allocation model, which provides 2GB of free data per user per day, accessible through a secure self-registration portal. This approach ensures fair and consistent access while maintaining sustainability. The Wi-Fi Programme continues to experience strong uptake and usage with over 446 000 registered users to date. There are between 24 000 and 26 000 daily connections and around 2 000 concurrent users during peak periods. These milestones highlight the Municipality’s ongoing efforts to expand digital inclusion.

Asimile Siyaqhuba - City's Proactive Land Release Strategy Unlocks Massive Opportunities

 

CITY’S PROACTIVE LAND RELEASE STRATEGY UNLOCKS MASSIVE OPPORTUNITIES

SIGNIFICANT gains have been made under the City’s Land Release Strategy, which falls under the umbrella of the Property Valuations and Management Directorate which is led by Thapelo Mmusinyane.

Highlighting these achievements is the City’s Five-Year Service Delivery Milestones campaign being rolled out under the theme: Asimile Siyaqhuba: Resilience Through Adversity. The campaign highlights transformative efforts that have shaped service delivery during the 2021 to 2026 term of office.

The Land Release Strategy was implemented in 2021, and stands as a proud enabler of empowerment, economic impact and success, particularly along Durban’s Beachfront. The strategy aims to enable growth through partnerships, stimulate investment, support small business development, all while advancing spatial transformation.

The beachfront has evolved into one of South Africa’s most compelling urban economic success stories where design, data, and development work together to generate measurable financial value.

Durban’s experience challenges the notion that public spaces are cost centres. They are, in fact, city-scale revenue generators driving measurable returns through rates, rentals, and reinvestment. The promenade’s consistent visitor growth, coupled with a strengthened trading mix, demonstrates how thoughtful urban design can turn municipal assets into engines of inclusive economic growth.

Between 2018 and 2025, monthly footfall along the promenade has grown from an average of 770 000 visitors to more than 1.3 million. In 2024, the precinct recorded 14.5 million visitors, the highest annual total ever measured. By mid-2025, year to-date counts had already exceeded 11.7 million. These are volumes comparable to the country’s top regional malls.

A shining example is the old Circus Circus, which was renovated to a stunning fusion of Africanism and Art Deco and is now the Durban Beach Café. The vision of this establishment was to create an iconic tourism destination restaurant while capturing the spirit of the City. The existing Joe Cools building, a 1700 m² structure that has served the beachfront for over four decades, has reached its functional limit. The data now supports its replacement with a new 4000 m² building, a modern, glass fronted development with expanded terraces, upper-level dining, and flexible event zones designed for year-round activation.

Additionally, the City has received a R1 billion commitment from the Southern Sun Hotel Group to redevelop the iconic Maharani and Elangeni Towers. The billion-rand capital investment will be broken down to R622 million on the upgrade of the Elangeni and Maharani, R157 million on movable assets and R348 million on two additional hotels owned by the same entity. This is in line with a functionality requirement that required bidders to further invest on the Durban beachfront precinct.

Another R5 million will be invested towards the development of the Sunken Garden, which is a municipal park on the beachfront. Just a stone-throw away from these hotels, will be the billion-rand, breathtaking Durban Amusement Park, which was announced in December 2025. The project is being led by a Durban based, 100 percent black owned firm with more than 17 years’ experience in delivering large-scale urban development projects. The development is expected to create approximately 900 construction jobs and over 500 permanent jobs in operations, hospitality, technical services and entertainment programming.

The City has also recently released various strategically located properties across Durban with a combined market value exceeding R360 million, covering 18 hectares. These properties represent a diverse mix of industrial, commercial, mixed-use, and hospitality opportunities.

Asimile Siyaqhuba - Five Years of Progress in Building A Smarter, Safer, and More Connected Transport Network

 

ETHEKWINI TRANSPORT AUTHORITY: FIVE YEARS OF PROGRESS IN BUILDING A SMARTER, SAFER, AND MORE CONNECTED TRANSPORT NETWORK

OVER the past five years, the eThekwini Transport Authority (ETA) has made significant strides in transforming the City’s transport landscape through strategic infrastructure investment, innovation, safety interventions, and progressive mobility planning. Highlighting these gains is the City’s Five-Year Service Delivery Milestones campaign being rolled out under the theme: Asimile Siyaqhuba: Resilience Through Adversity.

These milestones made by ETA reflect the City’s commitment to building an integrated, efficient, safe, and sustainable transport system that supports economic growth, urban regeneration, and improved quality of life for all residents.

ADVANCING TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT

A key focus area has been the implementation of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), which seeks to create connected, accessible urban spaces centred around public transport corridors.

The pilot that is being implemented in Pinetown will reshape how people live, work, and move by encouraging mixed-use development, reducing travel distances, and improving access to public transport services.

This initiative has allowed the City to assess practical interventions, gather operational insights, and refine strategies that can be replicated across other strategic transport nodes in eThekwini.

SUPPORTING INNER CITY REGENERATION

Transport infrastructure continues to play a vital role in supporting the regeneration of Durban’s inner city. Strategic upgrades to road networks, pedestrian facilities, public transport systems, and traffic management have contributed to improving accessibility, supporting commercial activity, and creating a more functional urban environment.

REDESIGNING PUBLIC TRANSPORT FOR THE FUTURE

Over the past five years, significant work has gone into redesigning public transport systems to improve efficiency, reliability, and user experience. This includes route planning improvements and operational integration efforts as part of the broader Integrated Public Transport Network (IPTN), and the development of systems such as closed-circuit television cameras on buses aimed at creating a more seamless public transport network for commuters.

LAUNCH OF THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT CALL CENTRE

The establishment of the Public Transport Call Centre has strengthened communication between commuters and the City. Channels such as telephone, WhatsApp and email provide residents with improved access to transport information, service updates and customer support, enhancing responsiveness and service delivery. Phone: 087 121 9446 WhatsApp: 071 374 1862 Email: Info@godurban.co.za

ELECTRIFICATION OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT

 As part of its sustainability agenda, discussions and plans have reached an advanced stage for the City to shift toward the electrification of public transport. This milestone supports environmental objectives by reducing emissions, lowering operational costs over time, and positioning eThekwini to embrace cleaner mobility solutions.

SHEPSTONE ROAD CONVERSION

The successful conversion of Shepstone Road marks another important infrastructure milestone. This intervention has improved traffic flow, enhanced road safety, and strengthened network efficiency within and around the Point precinct.

SHAPING THE FUTURE THROUGH CIPT 2024–2029

The development of the Comprehensive Integrated Public Transport (CIPT) Plan 2024–2029 sets a clear strategic direction for the next phase of transport transformation. The plan outlines key priorities aimed at improving public transport accessibility, strengthening modal integration, and responding to evolving mobility needs across the City.

SAFER ROADS THROUGH GUARDRAIL AND SPEED HUMP IMPLEMENTATION

Road safety remains a core priority. The implementation of guardrails and speed humps across strategic locations has helped reduce risks for both motorists and pedestrians, contributing to safer road environments, particularly in high-risk areas. During the past two financial years, the City has implemented approximately 130 traffic calming projects across multiple wards, with an estimated investment of R12 million. The projects are aimed at reducing speeding, improving pedestrian protection, and enhancing safety in residential areas, school zones and other high-risk locations.

TRAFFIC SIGNAL INNOVATION

The City has continued to modernise traffic management through signal innovations designed to improve traffic flow and network responsiveness. Traffic vandalism has been a huge challenge within the City, and in the past three years approximately 6 000 traffic light repairs have been done costing the City R40 000. These advancements support smarter traffic control, reduced congestion, and more efficient movement across key intersections. These achievements represent more than infrastructure milestones. They reflect a broader vision of creating a transport system that is integrated, inclusive, resilient, and future ready.

As the City of Durban grows, evolves, and progresses, the focus from a transport perspective remains on innovation, safety, sustainability, and delivering solutions that meet these needs.

Asimile Siyaqhuba - Transformation of Informal Trade in the City

 

TRANSFORMATION OF INFORMAL TRADE IN THE CITY

THE City is rolling out the Five-Year Service Delivery Milestones campaign under the theme: Asimile Siyaqhuba: Resilience Through Adversity. This week the spotlight is on informal trade.

Over the past five years, eThekwini Municipality’s Informal Trade Division, within the Economic Development Directorate, has strengthened the bridge between the formal and informal economy. The division ensures that informal businesses operate in safe, affordable, and well-maintained environments that are appealing to customers. This includes identifying strategic sites, constructing new infrastructure or upgrading existing facilities, and issuing permits and lease agreements.

 The division also provides skills development and maintains spaces so traders can focus on income-generating activities that support families and create jobs. Infrastructure investment has been central to this progress. In the 2023/24 financial year, capital projects supported 636 traders and created 124 jobs across eThekwini. The refurbishment of the 126 Johannes Nkosi Building benefited 250 traders and generated 18 jobs.

Flood restoration at the Illovo Auto Hub and the eMahawini Business Support Centre assisted 51 traders and created 18 jobs. Upgrades at 64 Flower Road and uMlazi V Container Park collectively supported 84 traders and added 26 jobs. Expansion of trading infrastructure further widened opportunities.

 New business hives were constructed at Blue Lagoon and the Cornubia Traders Facility which were opened in 2025. The Folweni Traders Hub and Midway Mall Container Park provide facilities for 153 traders and created 50 jobs.

The Centrum Park Trading Hub, located near The Workshop, opened in 2024 and houses 500 traders. Opening the site has helped to address illegal trading in the Central Business District as the project enabled legal trading and improved compliance with Municipal regulations. Meanwhile, the Tara Road Building was refurbished for traders and flea market operations, benefiting 98 traders and generating 12 jobs. Upgrades at the Verulam Market benefited 507 traders and created 15 jobs, while the Phoenix Market supported 132 traders and generated 13 jobs.

 In the south, Ezimbuzini Market benefited 191 traders and created 10 jobs. Beyond infrastructure, the programme strengthened resilience. From July 2021 to December 2022, retail market traders affected by COVID-19 and socio-economic unrest received rental holidays worth R9.5 million across the south, west, and north regions. Together, these initiatives reflect a five-year milestone of inclusive growth.

Asimile Siyaqhuba - Five Years of Advancement Towards Providing Human Settlements

 

ASIMILE SIYAQHUBA – FIVE YEARS OF ADVANCEMENT TOWARDS PROVIDING HUMAN SETTLEMENTS

Significant gains have been made in the City to provide decent housing and upgrade living environments. To highlight these transformative efforts that have shaped service delivery during the 2021-2026 term of office, the City is rolling out the Five-Year Service Delivery Milestones campaign under the theme: Asimile Siyaqhuba: Resilience Through Adversity.

The spotlight is on housing delivery where significant progress has been achieved by the Human Settlements Directorate over the past five years. This reflects a strong commitment to expanding access to dignified housing, upgrading living environments, and improving the overall quality of life for residents.

During this period, the directorate issued 5 725 title deeds, enabling thousands of families to secure legal ownership and strengthen their generational wealth prospects. Over the same five-year period, the Municipality continued its programme of improving existing housing infrastructure. A total of 1 194 pre-1994 housing units were upgraded and refurbished to ensure safety, structural integrity, and improved living conditions for long-standing communities. The directorate further expanded access to affordable housing through the delivery of 10 359 rental and breaking new ground units, contributing substantially to meeting the demand for formal housing within the City.

In addition, the directorate delivered 669 units through the upgrading and refurbishment of community residential units and the construction of new family units within existing hostels, strengthening the Municipality’s commitment to upgrading high-density living environments.

Efforts to improve informal settlements also advanced significantly, with 40 777 households receiving incremental services such as roads, footpaths, and stormwater controls, ensuring safer, more accessible, and more resilient living conditions.

To further support vulnerable households, the Municipality allocated 11 702 new fully subsidised housing units over the past five years, assisting thousands of qualifying beneficiaries with secure access to formal shelter. Altogether, the Human Settlements Directorate successfully created 20 839 housing opportunities during this period, marking a substantial contribution to addressing housing needs across eThekwini. These achievements represent the Municipality’s continued dedication to delivering sustainable human settlements, strengthening community resilience, and enhancing the dignity of residents.