The Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry recently celebrated its 170th anniversary, bringing together President Cyril Ramaphosa, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli, and eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba. The event, held at the TSOGO Globe at Suncoast, was attended by corporate leaders, small business owners, and informal traders. The gathering was convened by Palesa Phili, the Chamber's chief executive, who aimed to bring business and government together to discuss the city's challenges and opportunities.
President Ramaphosa spoke of Durban with affection, emphasizing its importance to the country's economy. He credited the Chamber with leading the business response to the July 2021 unrest and the April 2022 floods. Ramaphosa also highlighted the city's progress, citing the record R124.5 billion in investment commitments secured at the KwaZulu-Natal Investment Conference, with eThekwini accounting for the bulk of it. Employment in the metro stands at 1.29 million, with the lowest unemployment rate among the eight metros.
Premier Thami Ntuli addressed the room's concerns about safety, vowing that Durban will not experience another violent incident like the one in July 2021, which left over 350 people dead. He also pledged to protect every factory, shop, port, and livelihood, and asked the President to deploy the army to work alongside police in the province. The deployment of 510 soldiers under Operation Prosper was approved, and they will work alongside police until 30 November.
Palesa Phili presented a more nuanced view of the city's challenges, citing the decline in the Durban Business Confidence Index from 63.38 in the fourth quarter of 2025 to 48.82 in the second quarter of 2026. She attributed the fall to national and international pressures but noted that Durban still sits above the national index of 39. Phili redefined confidence, stating that it is not only a quarterly index but also a leader's belief in their city, which can spread to one business at a time.
Phili also highlighted the city's infrastructure challenges, with 31.5% of respondents in the latest survey naming roads as the worst performer, followed by environmental management and water. She asked government to increase the share of capital spending, currently at 8.4% of the municipality's R75.3 billion budget, to address these issues. Her remarks on the port also drew attention, describing ships waiting at anchor outside the harbour and the delays faced by manufacturers and retailers.
President Ramaphosa acknowledged that water and infrastructure backlog still hinder recovery, but noted progress in processing water licences, which now take 75 days, down from three years. He invited business leaders to approach him if government fails to deliver on its commitments. Mayor Cyril Xaba also expressed optimism about the city's investment prospects, citing substantial investment and a bright outlook, including tourism.
The event also showcased the city's corporate sector, with companies like Toyota and Unilever announcing their investments in KwaZulu-Natal and their plans to grow in the province. The financial services sector, including Momentum, Sanlam, FNB, and Old Mutual, also came together to celebrate Durban and the Chamber's achievement, demonstrating their commitment to giving back to the community.
Key points
- The Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry celebrated its 170th anniversary, bringing together key stakeholders to discuss the city's challenges and opportunities.
- President Cyril Ramaphosa and local leaders emphasized the importance of safety, infrastructure improvements, and investment in the city.
- The event highlighted the city's progress, including record investment commitments and employment growth, but also its challenges, such as infrastructure backlog and safety concerns.
