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EThekwini

EThekwini is a metropolitan municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, and serves as the country's principal port city and third-largest urban centre. The municipality encompasses the city of Durban and surrounding areas, with a population of approximately 3.9-million people. EThekwini is a major economic hub, contributing significantly to the national economy through its port operations, manufacturing sector, tourism industry and logistics networks. The Port of Durban, located within the municipality, is the busiest shipping terminal in sub-Saharan Africa and handles the majority of South Africa's container traffic. The metropolitan area is home to diverse industries including automotive manufacturing, petrochemicals, textiles and food processing. EThekwini's economy also benefits from its subtropical climate and beaches, which attract domestic and international tourists year-round. The municipality faces challenges including unemployment, infrastructure maintenance, water security and service delivery pressures. The name eThekwini derives from the Zulu word meaning "at the bay" or "at the lagoon", reflecting the city's coastal geography. The metropolitan municipality was established in 2000 following the amalgamation of several local authorities under South Africa's post-apartheid local government restructuring.

Latest Articles in 60 Seconds

DA seeks court interdict over senior appointments

The Democratic Alliance has returned to the Durban High Court, with the case postponed to July 24, 2026, seeking to interdict eThekwini's appointment of executive directors for water and sanitation and for public safety, citing material irregularities and a lack of qualifications. The party argues those responsible for the metro's non-revenue water losses, which cost billions of rands yearly and drive high water bills, should face accountability rather than promotion.

eThekwini hosts one of South Africa's largest residential Virtual Power Plant trials

Cape Town firm Plentify is recruiting about 280 homes and businesses in eThekwini for Project Smart Solar, coordinating rooftop solar, battery storage and smart geysers into a Virtual Power Plant. Eskom says such systems could ease peak demand and defer infrastructure investment, though the National Energy Regulator of South Africa has yet to create a regulatory or licensing framework for them.

Metro finances under scrutiny nationally

New Genesis Analytics research on municipal finances notes eThekwini outperforms the City of Johannesburg on capital expenditure per capita, as Johannesburg grapples with soaring operating costs, an eroding capex share and National Treasury threats to withhold its Equitable Share over unpaid Eskom and Rand Water debt.

EThekwini Updates


City of Johannesburg’s high operating expenditure dubbed ‘utterly unsustainable’
City of Johannesburg’s high operating expenditure dubbed ‘utterly unsustainable’
17th July 2026 By: Terence Creamer

New research into the crisis afflicting the City of Johannesburg warns that the widening structural imbalance between the metro’s operating expenditure and capital expenditure (capex) poses a... 


MTN maintains best network status in Q2
16th July 2026 By: Natasha Odendaal

MyBroadband Insights’ 2026 Mobile Network Quality Report for the second quarter of the year has found that telecommunications group MTN continues to have the best mobile network in South Africa,... 


Joburg’s high operating expenditure dubbed ‘utterly unsustainable’
Joburg’s high operating expenditure dubbed ‘utterly unsustainable’
29th June 2026 By: Terence Creamer

New research into the crisis afflicting the City of Johannesburg warns that the widening structural imbalance between the metro’s operating expenditure and capital expenditure (capex) poses a... 


A construction site at dawn
More action, less talk – consulting engineers’ body
26th June 2026 By: Halima Frost

Despite numerous government announcements and budget allocations earmarked for new infrastructure projects in South Africa, the country’s engineering sector, now more than ever, requires action... 


A generic image of a solar panel
Applications now open for eThekwini households to join Project Smart Solar pilot
3rd June 2026 By: Lumkile Nkomfe

Applications are now open for Project Smart Solar, an eThekwini municipality-backed smart energy pilot delivered in partnership with energy technology company Plentify and supported by... 


A housing scheme with buildings exhibiting green  practices
Green buildings show stronger returns
22nd May 2026 By: Devina Haripersad

Green-certified office buildings continue to outperform non-certified assets across several key investment metrics, says sustainability-focused property sector body Green Building Council South... 


People using cellphones and mobile devices
MTN maintains best network position in MyBroadband quarterly tests
21st April 2026 By: Natasha Odendaal

Telecommunications giant MTN continues its dominance in overall network performance during the first quarter of 2026. Consistently outperforming its competitors across the most important metrics in... 


Cesa CEO Chris Campbell
Infrastructure, services are the cornerstone of economic recovery – Cesa
17th April 2026 By: Schalk Burger

The delivery of infrastructure and essential services is a basic human right and a cornerstone for economic recovery, and South Africa must move to actionable outcomes that improve lives and... 


Photo of Terence Creamer
Performance focus
27th March 2026 By: Terence Creamer

That many of South Africa’s 257 municipalities are in crisis is not in question. Also painfully clear is that many metropolitan councils, which oversee the country’s six largest cities of... 


Sappi and WWF South Africa champion water management as key to  bio-economy resilience
Sappi and WWF South Africa champion water management as key to bio-economy resilience
26th March 2026

As water security moves to the centre of South Africa’s economic agenda, the strategic management of water resources has become critical for stakeholders in both the public and private sector. A... 


Saving Water Starts with Smarter Data
Saving Water Starts with Smarter Data
25th March 2026

(Virtual Showroom) South Africa’s water crisis is no longer a distant threat. It is a daily operational reality. As one of the 30 driest countries in the world, with over 98% of its available water... 


National Treasury director-general Dr Duncan Pieterse
R54bn performance-based grant launched to support metro infrastructure delivery
19th March 2026 By: Terence Creamer

The National Treasury has officially launched a R54-billion performance-based grant in a bid to increase investments in water, sanitation, electricity and waste infrastructure services by the... 


Sappi, WWF South Africa champion water management as key to bioeconomy resilience
17th March 2026 By: Natasha Odendaal

A multi-year partnership between global woodfibre and forestry group Sappi and WWF South Africa can serve as a blueprint for securing the bioeconomy through proactive catchment stewardship. Working... 


President Cyril Ramaphosa speaking at the National Transport Conference in Midrand
Permanent cross-sector ‘transport council’ could drive higher growth – Ramaphosa
16th March 2026 By: Terence Creamer

President Cyril Ramaphosa has proposed the establishment of a permanent ‘transport council’ to bring together government and the private sector across all the transport modes of land, air and sea.... 


Busi Mavuso
Mavuso criticises municipal mismanagement of water infrastructure, calls for accountability
16th March 2026 By: Sabrina Jardim

With municipalities such as Johannesburg and eThekwini losing about 35% to 50% of treated water to leaks owing to mismanagement, this foregone revenue is not spent on essential maintenance,... 


President Cyril Ramaphosa
Ramaphosa points to eThekwini’s ‘progress’ in improving local govt ahead of elections
9th March 2026 By: Sashnee Moodley

“When local government fails, the impact is felt by communities, businesses and households. When local government works well, villages, towns and cities become engines of opportunity and growth.”... 


Oliver Tambo and Nelson Mandela's statues
Govt affirms importance of preserving heritage, unveils Mandela, Tambo statues
3rd March 2026 By: Thabi Shomolekae

President Cyril Ramaphosa said in erecting former President Nelson Mandela and former African National Congress (ANC) President Oliver Reginald Tambo’s statues, government is affirming the... 


Water foundation strong, task ahead to strengthen, accelerate reform, says DWS
3rd March 2026 By: Natasha Odendaal

South Africa’s water challenges are vast, systemic and interconnected, and the sector is at a defining moment; however, there is a strong foundation to work from, participants in a Strategic Water... 


Image of President Cyril Ramaphosa
President-chaired national water committee formed to tackle water crisis
13th February 2026 By: Natasha Odendaal

Government is establishing a National Water Crisis Committee, chaired by President Cyril Ramaphosa, to tackle South Africa’s prolonged water crisis. While longer-term reforms are under way, led by... 


An MTN logo
MTN retains best network status
22nd January 2026 By: Natasha Odendaal

Telecommunications group MTN has maintained its title of South Africa’s best mobile network for 2025, with a Network Quality Score of 9.96. MyBroadband Insights’ 2025 Mobile Network Quality Report... 


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