City Launches Musical Theatre Production Developing Local Creatives

 

By Fred Felton | Aug. 12, 2026

The show ‘Amandla Phumelela’ was premiered by eThekwini Municipality on 7 August. The show is a bold new local musical theatre production developed through the city’s Theatre Residency Programme.

This production came after the city held a public call for auditions, which invited actors, writers and directors, and which saw many young creatives come from all over the city to show their talent.

A total of sixteen young creatives were selected for their acting abilities, stage presence and powerful vocal performances and they form part of the Municipality’s first Theatre Residency.

The production officially opened on 7 August and will run until 16 August at The Stable Theatre. Entrance is free.

Amandla Phumelela is a powerful musical that explores the realities confronting many young South Africans. It is written and directed by Jerry Pooe, featuring choreography by Sfiso Mathibela. The show uses storytelling, music and drama and tackles issues such as substance abuse, abandonment, identity, and the search for love, purpose and belonging, while delivering a message of hope, resilience and transformation.

‘’Members of the cast are now receiving mentorship from industry professionals, theatre training and access to performance opportunities that will strengthen their artistic development and prepare them for the professional theatre environment,’’ said Director of Recreation and Parks, Dr Simphiwe Ndlovu.

By investing in emerging artists, the eThekwini Municipality continues to position Durban as a vibrant hub for artistic excellence and cultural innovation.

For bookings, contact Musa Ntuli of the Arts and Culture Division on 031 322 8789 or musa.ntuli@durban.gov.za

Municipality intensifies its winter safety campaign to prevent fires

 

Municipality intensifies its winter safety campaign to prevent fires

SANE SHANDU

ETHEKWINI Municipality’s efforts to protect residents have intensified, with a renewed focus on preventing devastating fires before tragedy strikes this winter season.

As the cold weather sets in, more households turn to heaters, candles, paraffin stoves, and electric blankets to stay warm. While these bring warmth, they also increase the risk of fire, especially in densely populated communities and informal settlements where fires can spread rapidly.

Recognising this growing danger, the Municipality’s Fire Service Directorate has rolled out an expanded winter safety campaign, taking fire prevention directly to people. The campaign is actively reaching communities, schools, and local spaces to share practical safety tips and raise awareness.

Every year, lives are lost and families are left devastated due to fires that could have been prevented. Many of these incidents are caused by everyday actions such as unattended stoves, overloading plugs, or unsafe heating methods.

Director of the Fire Services Directorate Enock Mchunu said fire safety starts with awareness and shared responsibility. ‘’Most fires begin with small mistakes. When people understand the risks and take simple precautions, we can prevent disasters and save lives,’’ he said.

Fire safety teams are working on the ground, empowering communities with knowledge and tools to protect themselves and their loved ones. The aim is to build a culture of safety. ‘’We want to work with communities and schools to ensure they are empowered with skills and tools that safeguard their homes,’’ Mchunu said.

In case of a fire emergency, residents can call 031 361 0000.

Mayoral Tourism Editors' Engagement

 

By Fred Felton | Jan. 28, 2026

Recently eThekwini Mayor Councillor Cyril Xaba held a Mayoral Tourism Editors’ Engagement with Editors and Media at Octavia Boutique Hotel in Inanda. These are some of the highlights.

EThekwini Mayor, Cllr Cyril Xaba, presented the 2025/2026 festive season performance outcomes and outlined the City's tourism development plans for 2026 and beyond during a media engagement held in Octavia Boutique Hotel, in Inanada. Photo: Supplied. 

Mayor Xaba reported on the performance outcomes of the 2025/2026 festive season. He also shared plans to attract more tourists to the City for this year and beyond.

Mayor Xaba stated that this was the best festive season the City has experienced in many years.

‘’For the first time in five years, we enjoyed a relatively stable water supply, except in areas supplied by Pipeline 53 from Pietermaritzburg, which experienced a burst that resulted in intermittent water supply in some parts of the Outer West region. Additionally for the first time since the 2022 floods, all 23 of our bathing beaches were open and safe for swimming. As a safety precaution, we temporarily closed one or two beaches when necessary to ensure they met the highest safety standards,’’ said Mayor Xaba.

The City welcomed thousands of visitors during the festive season, with many areas reaching full capacity as holidaymakers enjoyed Durban’s warm summer weather.

‘’Our beaches recorded over 6.8 million visitors, including swimmers and promenade users from 1 December to 12 January 2026. At our 43 municipal swimming pools, we recorded more than 1.2 million bathers,’’ noted Mayor Xaba.

The dedicated lifeguards and emergency services remained on high alert throughout the festive season, responding swiftly to several rescuers involving swimmers caught in challenging conditions.

The City’s beach guides issued 275 000 wristbands to children, and 1 855 children who were separated from their parents were successfully reunited within 24 hours.

To make sure the City stayed clean a comprehensive Waste Management Plan was implemented which included deploying additional cleaning teams, structured shift systems and roving teams. This ensured a clean, safe and welcoming coastline.

An integrated safety plan involving all law enforcement agencies resulted in multidisciplinary operations including roadblocks targeting reckless driving, unroadworthy vehicles, and drinking and driving. More than 2 000 officers were deployed for day and night patrols backed up by 500 CCTV cameras.

There were also additional tourism offerings to encourage visitors to stay longer. These included 23 signature events, the New Year’s Eve fireworks display along the beachfront and the successful Durban’s New Year Carnival on 2 January.

‘’We are pleased to report a significant increase in visitor numbers compared to 2024. Preliminary figures indicate that the City welcomed close to 1.2 million visitors, up from 998 000 last year – a 19% increase. Accommodation occupancy rose to 77% from 72% in 2024. Direct tourism spend increased from R2.2 billion to R2.7 billion, reflecting a 24% increase. The sector’s GDP contribution grew from R5.5 billion to R9.6 billion, creating over 14 000 job opportunities. These figures reaffirm tourism as a key driver of our local economy,’’ said Mayor Xaba.

The people of Durban can also look forward to some big events in 2026.

In the coming weeks giant statues of former President Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo will be unveiled.

The countdown to the 5^th Durban Tourism Business Awards begins.

The City will be co-sponsoring the Jonsson Workwear Durban Open professional golf tournament which happens at the Durban Country Club from 19 to 22 February.

In April, Durban will host the Metro FM Music Awards as the official host city for the next three years.

Next month will see the launch of a new airline route between King Shaka International Airport and Saint-Pierre Pierrefonds Airport in Reunion Island, with the inaugural flight scheduled for 27 February 2026.

The Municipality will also participate in major domestic and international trade shows to attract investment to Durban.

Anthony Hamilton will perform live in Durban on 28 February 2026, followed by Bryan Adams in March and UB40 featuring Ali Campbell in June 2026.

Durban International Marathon happens in May.

Comrades Marathon (Up Run) – June

Hollywoodbets Durban July

Durban International Film Festival – July

‘’Durban’s tourism sector is firmly on an upward trajectory,’’ noted Mayor Xaba.

 

Mayor Xaba rolls up his sleeves and seeks answers to address Inanda water challenges

EThekwini Municipality Mayor Councillor Cyril Xaba on 14 July visited ward 56 in Inanda Newtown A and Ngoqokazi areas to receive a first-hand report on inherent water challenges confronting the community. | Photo: Supplied. 

Just a few days after being sworn in as EThekwini Municipality Mayor, Councillor Cyril Xaba has hit the ground running. 

Today, Mayor Xaba visited ward 56 in Inanda Newtown A and Ngoqokazi areas to receive a first-hand report on inherent water challenges confronting the community.

The Mayor has vowed to seek answers from the administration as to why water challenges still persist in some areas of the municipality. In Inanda Newtown A, communities complained about the shortage of water since the 2022 floods. Other households raised complaints about their municipal bills which are too high. While some households in Ngoqokazi and Amatikwe have been experiencing intermittent water supply, others have been without water for five to 10 years and they continue to rely on water tankers.

“I have come to this area after receiving a phone call from the local councillor complaining about persisting water challenges. Having seen first-hand the challenges on the ground, I am now in a better position to understand the plight of the community and will be able seek appropriate answers from the administration as to why are we having these challenges and when are they planning to resolve them," said Mayor Xaba.

The community welcomed the Mayor’s visit and committed to working with the city to find long lasting solutions to the water challenges and other service delivery issues.

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Inanda road and bridge upgrade nears completion

Mlungisi Dlamini 

The reconstruction of road A3822 and bridge is expected to be completed soon. | Photo: Supplied. 

The repairs of road A3822, Ward 108 in Inanda are nearing completion. EThekwini Municipality teams are still on the ground working to restore the situation to normality after the devastating floods.

The Project Engineer Okuhle Luthuli said the repairs are extected to be completed by the end of July.  “The project is progressing well.  Monitoring and evaluations are conducted frequently to ensure that everything is still on track. The wing walls have been put on both sides of the culvert and gabions have been done on the sides of the road to ensure a strong balance on both sides. We have also employed residents to ensure that we create job opportunities for locals. We are currently backfilling and compacting the top structure of the road,” said Luthuli.

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City's Mobile App Gains Popularity With Residents

Zimbili Mazibuko

The City’s mobile app is proving to be a popular choice for residents to report service delivery issues, particularly relating to electricity and water, impressively resolving matters within the stipulated 48-hour turnaround time.

The app, which has over 86 000 downloads since its launch in 2023, is becoming the preferred tool to receive timely responses. Head of the Sizakala Unit, Mavuso Tshabalala said the app has made it easy for residents to report faults.

“We are pleased to see residents using the app as intended. This app was designed to empower residents to report issues promptly, and we are encouraged by the positive feedback we have received. Many of the reported issues, including loss of electricity, water supply disruptions, burst pipes and potholes, are being addressed within 48 hours, which speaks to the app’s effectiveness,” said Tshabalala. 

The City has intensified its efforts to promote the app as the primary channel for reporting service delivery concerns. As part of this campaign, 50 municipal buses will be branded with the mobile app to raise awareness among residents about its functionalities and benefits. The buses will be operating in places like uMlazi, Ntuzuma, KwaMashu and the City centre.

“We are excited about the buses that are already on the streets with our app. The more people see the buses, the more they will know about the app, and will subsequently download and use it. The app is an important tool for our residents. While we encourage the public to visit our Sizakala Centres for additional services, the app serves as an alternative for addressing common issues efficiently” said Tshabalala.

Residents can use the app to access emergency contact numbers, pay their Municipal bill via Masterpass, upload their meter readings, report faults, view and query their Municipal bill, link to tender platform and also link to the City’s digital media platforms. Residents can download the app on Google Play store, Apple App store and Huawei App gallery.

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Positive response to new eThekwini App

THE new eThekwini Municipality App has been positively received by residents. Since it was announced in June, the app has been downloaded over 18 000 times, highlighting its immediate popularity. This user-friendly application, spearheaded by the Sizakala Customer Service Centre, is designed to improve residents' lives by providing convenient access to essential services. The app offers a streamlined approach for residents to register complaints and make service requests. This feature promises increased efficiency, transparency, and promptness in addressing the needs of communities. Key to the app's functionality is the directory of all municipal Councillors, enabling residents to identify and contact their local representatives. 

This innovative function aims to foster improved communication between residents and their elected officials, thereby enhancing community engagement. Beyond this, the eThekwini Municipality App offers a diverse range of services, including access to Municipal information, bill viewing, and direct payment options. This streamlined process is anticipated to simplify administrative tasks for residents, contributing to the greater convenience in their daily lives. The app can be downloaded from the Android Play Store for Android users and the Apple Store for iOS users. The App is currently not compatible with Huawei devices. Users of Huawei devices are advised to continue utilising eServices until compatibility is established. 

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Rabies outbreak alert

THERE have been reports of a rabies outbreak in various parts of the Municipality. Recently, a child in the area of Umbumbulu died after being bitten by a rabid dog. The Municipality has since embarked on a vaccination campaign  and is urging all dog and cat owners to bring their pets to a vaccination site in the area. The vaccination drive kicked off in Umbumbulu area on 17 August where the unfortunate incident occurred. 

The primary objective will be to address the issue and prevent further spread of rabies. Spearheading the effort will be the municipality's health teams and state veterinarians from the Department of Agriculture, who will administer rabies vaccinations to pets in the community. Following the operation in Mbumbulu, a municipal-wide campaign will be launched to raise awareness about rabies. This campaign is especially significant as September is recognised as Rabies Awareness Month. Pet owners of dogs and cats are strongly urged to bring their beloved animals for a free rabies vaccination. By taking this proactive step, they can play a crucial role in curbing the transmission of the disease. The main objective of the rabies campaign is to promote understanding and knowledge among residents. It is important for individuals to be aware of the signs of rabies in animals which include fearfulness, aggression, difficulty swallowing, excessive drooling and seizures. By recognising these symptoms early on, residents can take appropriate measures to protect both themselves and their pets from the deadly disease. 

Communities can contact their local environmental health office through the city's health unit on 031 311 3555 or they can contact the state vet on 031 322 6192. 

Vaccination schedules will be communicated in the municipality's social media platforms. 

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INK based residents invited to apply for eThekwini / NCI contractor development programme 

TO ENSURE the development of emerging contractors, the National Construction Incubator (NCI), in partnership with eThekwini Municipality, invites interested construction companies to participate in the Construction Incubator Programme. 

The programme aims to promote the sustainable development of small to medium-sized contractors with a view to upskill and improve their CIDB grading designations over a period of up to three years. 

To be eligible to participate in the programme you must: 

• Be residing within the Inanda, Ntuzuma and KwaMashu (INK) areas
• CIDB grades 1-5 
• Historically disadvantaged individuals are encouraged to apply. 

The programme will be categorised as follows: one to two (pre-incubation programme) and three to five (mainstream) for Classes of Construction Works. The programme constitutes of mentorship, training, and skills development support. 

Applications are open until 25 August 2023 at 4pm. 

To download application forms, see the requirements, and to gain a better understanding of the scope of the programme, visit www.natci.org.za or www.durban.gov.za and click on the business tab, then SMME Development, and then the INK incubator page. 

Alternatively, follow this link to download the application form to apply: https://bit.ly/3OmyAT0 

The contractor development advert is also advertised in the latest Metro Ezasegagasini which is accessible at Sizakala Centres and Municipal and Councillors Offices. 

Application forms can also be collected from the INK Incubator Office at 76 Bungezi Road, M-Section, KwaMashu. 

Chairperson of the Economic Development and Planning Committee Councillor Thembo Ntuli encouraged residents, especially young people, to grab this opportunity. 

Councillor Ntuli said since the INK Incubator was established in 2014, they have worked with the NCI to provide technical support to emerging contractors as well as mentorship and other business management training to increase their competitiveness and compliance. This has assisted contractors when bidding for work and has helped to ensure their sustainability. ''As the City's Economic Development and Planning Committee, we invest millions annually to the programme to ensure the development of local emerging contractors. Our investment is reaping the rewards as 300 contractors that have gone through the programme have gone on to create over 600 jobs and generate a combined revenue of  R15 million per year,'' he said. 

''Currently another intake is completing their three-year Contractor Incubation Programme which is why we are making this call out for new participants. We are confident that the current class is ready for industry and will contribute to job creation and local economic growth,'' Councillor Ntuli added. 

For more information on the programme, contact Samkelo Mahlaba on 068 561 0127 or email smahlaba@natci.org.za.

Alternatively, contact Lungile Ngubane on 031 311 4500 or email Lungile.Ngubane@durban.gov.za.