Regeneration at Heart of Global Blue Economy Agenda for Africa

 

By Fred Felton | Mar. 11, 2026

Ocean Innovation Africa (OIA), in partnership with eThekwini Municipality as host city, will hold its 2026 summit in Durban at the Durban ICC from 23 to 25 March.

Durban will be the host city for OIA 2026. | Photo: Durban Tourism 

This Summit is aimed at positioning Africa at the forefront of the global shift from a sustainable to a regenerative blue economy, and brings together investors, policymakers, entrepreneurs, scientists, development finance institutions and community leaders to accelerate implementation, unlock capital and investment, and coordinate tangible action across Africa’s ocean economy.

The eThekwini Municipality is host city and main partner and certainly demonstrates its active leadership in advancing the blue economy by looking towards how to strengthen coastal management, support maritime and port-linked innovation, and align local development strategies with climate resilience and ocean sustainability objectives. As the host of OIA 2026, eThekwini reinforces Durban’s position as an important continental hub for ocean innovation, investment, and policy leadership.

‘’As climate pressures intensify and ocean degradation accelerates globally, our continent stands at a defining moment. With more than 38 coastal and island states and a rapidly expanding ocean economy, Africa has a unique opportunity to lead a regenerative model, one that restores ecosystems, strengthens long-term stability and drives equitable economic growth,’’ said Alexis Grosskopf, Founder of OceanHub Africa and spokesperson for Ocean Innovation Africa.

For the 2026 Summit the focus will be on regenerative blue business models and nature-positive growth; blue finance pathways, from aid to local and blended capital, marine protection, economic expansion and community stability, pan-African innovation ecosystems and solution-oriented workshops and curated Business-to-Business matchmaking and investor meetings and dialogues.

Annually the global ocean economy is valued in the trillions of dollars, yet overfishing, pollution, habitat loss, and climate change are undermining both ecological stability and economic security. Incremental sustainability is no longer enough.

‘’We expect that investors, policy-makers, and innovators will join forces and co-ordinate strategies to tackle priority bottlenecks, drive practical collaborations, scale solutions, and reinforce Africa-led regenerative framing within global ocean dialogues,’’ noted Grosskopf.

OIA 2026 positions Africa as both contributor and leader in shaping the future of the blue economy.

For more information or to register go to: www.ocean-innovation.africa

President Cyril Ramaphosa Unveiled Landmark Statues in eThekwini Municipality

 

By Fred Felton | Mar. 8, 2026

On Tuesday 3^rd March 2026 President Cyril Ramaphosa unveiled statues honouring President Nelson Mandela and former ANC President Oliver Tambo.

President Cyril Ramaphosa was joined by eThekwini Mayor Councillor Cyril Xaba, as well as national and provincial Members of Parliament, councillors and other government officials at the official unveiling of landmark statues honouring struggle stalwarts Nelson Mandela and former ANC President Oliver Tambo. | Photo: Thuli Dlamini. 

The 10-metre statues have been installed in prominent and accessible locations in Durban.

‘’The eThekwini Municipality has bestowed this honour on these two icons in recognition of their contribution towards our struggle for freedom, social justice and the empowerment of our people. Monuments of this nature are important for preserving our history and heritage. They anchor the collective memory of a nation. They are important as a public affirmation of the values which these leaders represented and the principles for which they fought,’’ said President Cyril Ramaphosa.

These statues celebrate the historic contribution made by both leaders to the country’s liberation and democracy and are directed at enhancing the city’s cultural and heritage tourism offering.

‘’It is significant that these statues are unveiled in the year that we celebrate 30 years of the adoption of our democratic Constitution,’’ noted President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The unveiling formed part of the City’s commitment to promote Durban as a heritage tourism destination.

‘’We unveil these statues knowing that people from across our country and across the world will come to see them, eThekwini is one of the premier tourist destinations in our country and we can anticipate that these statues will contribute to exceptional growth in tourism. It is said that more than 6.8 million people visited the beaches and the promenade over the festive season and that more than 1.2 million bathers were recorded at the municipality’s swimming pools. This is a sign both of what the city has to offer and the hard work that has been done by all stakeholders to ensure that eThekwini is a place that people want to visit. I am therefore pleased to announce that eThekwini will be the venue for the 46^th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community – SADC – to be held in August 2026,’’ said President Cyril Ramaphosa.

‘’As we face the challenges of today and tomorrow, we are standing on the shoulders of these brave men and women, their lives will continue to inspire and encourage us as we strive together for a better world,’’ noted President Cyril Ramaphosa.

‘’Each statue celebrates the extraordinary contributions these leaders made to the country’s journey to freedom. We trust that these statues will inspire present and future generations to learn more about the immense contributions these struggle icons made in building the democratic South Africa we enjoy today,’’ said eThekwini Municipality Mayor, Councillor Cyril Xaba.

Following the unveiling ceremony, President Cyril Ramaphosa convened a meeting of the Presidential eThekwini Working Group (PeWG) at the Durban ICC.

The Presidential eThekwini Working Group, was established in April 2024, it is a collaborative initiative between The Presidency, the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality and the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) to address service delivery challenges, improve infrastructure, stabilise governance, and enhance economic growth in the municipality.

The meeting brought together key stakeholders including business and organised labour leaders, Ministers, Premier Thami Ntuli, Members of the Executive Council (MECs), senior government officials, and the Mayor of eThekwini Municipality, Councillor Cyril Xaba.

The engagement took stock of the progress made since the establishment of PeWG and outlined the next phase of focused interventions aimed at strengthening economic growth, job creation, infrastructure development, and improved service delivery in eThekwini.

Billions in Investment unlocked by eThekwini District Model

 

By Fred Felton | Feb. 17, 2026

The eThekwini Mayor Councillor Cyril Xaba was part of a high-level delegation which visited various catalytic project sites in the City on 6^th February 2026.

EThekwini Mayor Councillor Cyril Xaba led a high-level delegation during an oversight visit to several catalytic projects in the City on 6th February. | Photo: Supplied. 

The oversight visit was done to address challenges related to regulatory approvals, bulk infrastructure provision, and the funding of key catalytic projects.

Mayor Xaba is the Chairperson of the eThekwini District Development Model (DDM) Political Hub and he was joined by the eThekwini DDM Champion and Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment Narend Singh.

Both the leaders expressed satisfaction with the progress of key catalytic sites that are set to change the City’s economic landscape.

Key project milestones include:

The Giba Business Estate: With an investment of R1.2 billion this development is moving at full steam. The Municipality has already put over R100 million into critical road infrastructure, which is scheduled to be finished within the next two months.

Isibaya Precinct Development: Developed by DEVMCO, this is a mixed-use hub and is nearing completion. After 10 years in development, it is set for a grand opening later in 2026. The precinct will feature an International Convention Centre, a 4 000-seater Playhouse and a 200-bed facility.

There were also positive updates received for the Avoca Node, Cato Ridge Node, and the Malaba Canal Project.

‘’The goal is to ensure the work of the Presidential Working Group is seamlessly integrated into the DDM framework. This ensures sustainability so that even as the Presidential Working Group phases out, the momentum of these projects continues uninterrupted,’’ said Mike Mabuyakhulu, Co-Chairperson of the eThekwini Presidential Working Group.

Mr Mabuyakhulu stressed the importance of immediate intervention to secure R21 billion in total investment.

‘’We are seeing a truly collaborative effort from government to create a conducive environment for investors. Today’s site visits proved that progress is happening on the ground, not just on paper,’’ said Deputy Minister Singh.

Deputy Minister Singh also praised the ‘’hands-on’’ approach of the current leadership.

Premier's Service Excellence Awards Nomination for eThekwini App

 

By Fred Felton | Feb. 15, 2026

The eThekwini Mobile App has been nominated in the Best Public Service Implementation Project of the Year category for the 2024/25 Premier’s Service Excellence Awards.

The eThekwini Mobile App has been nominated in the Best Public Service Implementation Project of the Year category for the 2024/25 Premier's Service Excellence Awards. | Photo: Supplied. 

This is a major recognition of innovation and service excellence in the public sector and positions eThekwini alongside the best performing municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal.

The eThekwini Mobile App has been downloaded over 189 000 times and has become one of the City’s most impactful digital tools, transforming the way residents report service faults and access essential Municipal information.

Based on feedback the app remains efficient, user-friendly, and effective.

To assess the app adjudicators from the Premier’s Office recently visited the eThekwini Municipality to evaluate the app for the awards.

During the adjudication session the eThekwini Mobile App team comprising officials from Customer Relations Management, Revenue Management, and Applications and Information Technology presented both practical demonstrations and documentary evidence.

This evidence supporting the City’s formal submission was sent to the Premier’s Office in December 2025.

‘’We are confident that our presentations and demonstrations provided the information adjudicators required. Being shortlisted is an honour for our City and reflects the hard work of our technical teams,’’ said The City’s Deputy Director of Applications and Projects, Mduduzi Mdletshe.

Mdletshe was also part of the presenting team and expressed excitement about the nomination.

This recognition of the eThekwini Mobile App highlights the City’s ongoing commitment to modernising services and improving customer experience.

More City projects have also been shortlisted in additional categories, making a strong showing for eThekwini in the Premier’s Service Excellence Awards.

Growthpoint Rebalances its South African Portfolio

 

By Fred Felton | Feb. 11, 2026

Growthpoint Properties (JSE: GRT) has successfully rebalanced its SA portfolio with two property deals that reduce its exposure to Gauteng and unlock around R2bn in capital to go into its strategy to target higher-performing regions and sectors.

One of the Growthpoint properties 29 Richefond Circle in Umhlanga which features a roof-top garden.  Photo: Fred Felton

Two transactions have been agreed between Discovery and the current co-owners of the Discovery buildings at Sandton Summit, Growthpoint and Truzen 114 Trust, which hold 55% and 45% respectively.

For the bigger transaction, Growthpoint will sell its stake in the Discovery head office, or Discovery Phase 1, to Discovery in a cash transaction with proceeds of R2.3bn. Growthpoint’s 55% stake in the building equals to 50,466m², which was valued at R2.2bn at the end of Growthpoint’s most recent financial reporting period, 30 June 2025. Truzen will sell its 45% stake to Discovery.

Growthpoint is also acquiring Truzen’s 45% stake in the adjacent Discovery Phase 2 at an attractive, market-aligned consideration of R323 million. The 19,369m² multi-tenant building was fully let on 30 June 2025.

Once these transactions are finalised, subject to conditions including approval from the Competition Commission, each building will be 100% owned by its respective owner – Discovery will wholly own Discovery Phase One and Growthpoint will be the sole owners of Discovery Phase 2 – on a sectional title basis.

Growthpoint’s domestic strategy is to increase portfolio weighting towards sectors and regions expected to delivery better growth over the longer term, specifically retail and logistics properties.

Estienne de Klerk, SA CEO of Growthpoint Properties. Photo: Supplied. 

One only has to look at its property portfolio in KwaZulu-Natal to see the wide range of premium properties that it has which include: Lincoln on the Lake, Mayfair on the Lake, The Boulevard, Gateway Hospital, Ridgeview, La Lucia Mall, Westville Mall and even Student Accommodation at UKZN like Hluma Studios – UKZN – Howard College Campus which is scheduled for opening in 2027. Growthpoint also has properties in Hillcrest area like Busamed – Hillcrest Private Hospital, Hillcrest Corner, Watercrest Mall and Trade Park in Mount Edgecombe and more developments being built in the Cornubia area.

‘’Effective capital rotation is a balancing act. We continually review the portfolio to identify where it makes sense to reduce overweight positions and sell assets attracting investor demand to fund our strategy and add value. In this case, the Discovery Head Office was identified for disposal despite its P-grade quality and blue-chip tenant,’’ noted Estienne de Klerk, SA CEO of Growthpoint Properties.

These combined transactions reduce Growthpoint’s office concentration in Gauteng and Sandton by more than 30, 000m² to a more appropriate level, realise value and unlock almost R2bn which can be used for further strategic asset rotation. This enables Growthpoint to manage its portfolio weighting responsibly while keeping overall portfolio quality.

With 100% ownership of the P-Grade Discovery Phase 2, Growthpoint increases its exposure to potential upside from shorter-lease, multitenant offices in a market where rental conditions are firming. Multitenant offices also offer more diversified income and less letting risk.

Growthpoint will continue its long-standing relationship with Discovery as a tenant at Discovery Phase 2 and elsewhere.

‘’These transactions are a vote of confidence in Sandton, its office market and its blue-chip tenants, all of which Growthpoint will continue to invest in at suitable levels. Discovery Phase One has attracted a significant investment from Discovery. With our 100% investment in Discovery Phase Two, Growthpoint retains an appropriate presence in the Sandton Summit precinct, where we are also due to break ground on the R1.2 billion Olympus Sandton residential development with Tricolt later this month,’’ noted de Klerk.

The financial effects of the transaction will be reported in the results for Growthpoint’s six months ended 31 December 2025, which will be published on Wednesday, 11 March 2026. The transaction will have no impact on these interim results. The transactions are expected to have little, if any, effects during Growthpoint’s financial year to 30 June 2026.

According to Growthpoint once final, the transaction will result in a higher reported office vacancy percentage, as a large, fully let asset is removed from its portfolio.

Queen Anne Docks in Durban boosting Tourism

 

By Fred Felton | Feb. 9, 2026

The Nelson Mandela Cruise Terminal in Durban was full of activity on 4^th February as the luxurious Cunard’s Queen Anne cruise ship docked with around 3 000 international tourists on board the luxury liner.

The luxury cruise ship Queen Anne docked in Durban on 4th February. | Photo: Durban Tourism

All through the day tourists ventured around Durban, taking in the iconic sights such as the Golden Mile beachfront, uShaka Marine World and other sites.

Many tourists joined guided tours to experience Durban’s diverse heritage, while others took in the City’s warm hospitality and enjoyed the culinary scene.

Durban Tourism welcomed the visitors and offered an authentic taste of the City’s unique blend of traditions and cultures.

It was a vibrant day at Durban's Nelson Mandela Cruise Terminal as the Queen Anne docked yesterday, bringing 3 000 tourists eager to explore the City. Photo: Durban Tourism. 

Tourists were treated to local crafts, distinctive flavours and authentic Durban experiences that showcased the City’s appeal as a world destination.

The Queen Anne left Durban at 9pm, leaving with it heightened excitement and a positive boost to the local tourism economy.

The vessel set sail across the Indian Ocean en route to Singapore.

This visit shows Durban’s growing reputation as a premier stop for international cruise liners, reinforcing the City’s position on the global tourism map.

Jockey Elevating Everyday Underwear

 

By Fred Felton | Feb. 4, 2026

For almost 150 years, Jockey has helped define what quality, comfort and innovation mean in the manufacturing of underwear.  Jockey South Africa has now also launched the Sports Mesh range, a product shaped by fabric engineering advancements, performance technology and precision in manufacturing. Jockey has long understood that leadership is not defined by reacting to trends, but by anticipating them.

The new sports mesh range from Jockey South Africa. Photo: Fred Felton

Today sees the convergence between activewear and daily clothing, driven by consumers who expect comfort, breathability and something that will last. Underwear is now seen as a garment expected to support movement, regulate temperature and deliver comfort. As a result Jockey has speeded up their investment in advanced fabric development, moisture-management systems and innovations in manufacturing which paved the way for Sports Mesh.

‘’At Jockey, innovation doesn’t start with trends it starts with how garments are made. Our focus has always been on manufacturing excellence, because that’s where real comfort and performance are created. Sports Mesh reflects years of investment in fabric development testing, and construction, and displays how we continue to evolve everyday essentials through meaningful, technical progress,’’ said Rob Hogg, National Sales Manager at Jockey South Africa.

The next-generation mesh fabric has been engineered to be lightweight and deliver an instantly cooling, icy hand feel. This is in line with industry trends moving towards materials that actively regulate the body. The mesh design maintains softness, elasticity, and structural integrity, while meeting the demands of an active lifestyle.

The sports mesh design also supports consistent body temperature in changing conditions. The underwear range also helps to maintain dryness, keep body temperature stable, and deliver comfort all day long.

‘’Consumers today expect more from their everyday underwear,’’ added Hogg.

Sports Mesh also integrates antimicrobial protection right into the fabric, stopping the growth of odour-causing microorganisms, while supporting hypoallergenic comfort.

The sports mesh design also eliminates side and back seams, helps reduce chafing and assists with freedom of movement and comfort.

This underwear range is available in Long Leg, Short Leg and Boxer brief silhouettes; the Sports Mesh range has colour options of Black and Midnight Navy with sizes from S to 2XL.

They certainly look and feel great and have a wonderful fit for those that have busy lifestyles.

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner this might just be the perfect gift for that someone special in your life.

You can get the Jockey Sports Mesh range at jockey.co.za