To accelerate investment, unlock job opportunities, and remove development bottlenecks, eThekwini Municipality City Manager, Musa Mbhele, together with the City’s Executive Management Team from various directorates, recently led the third eThekwini Investor Fridays Site Visits.
The initiative forms part of the city’s ongoing commitment to engage directly with investors and developers to resolve challenges impacting catalytic projects.
The delegation, supported by the Operations Management, Catalytic Projects, and Technical Services Directorates, visited the Oceans Umhlanga Precinct Development, DEVMCO Sibaya Precinct Development and Link Hills Lifestyle Centre.
Discussions focused on addressing outstanding operational and regulatory challenges, with a particular emphasis on expediting implementation timelines and restoring investor confidence.
At the Oceans Umhlanga precinct, attention centred on resolving challenges related to the temporary taxi rank required for the development. The eThekwini Transport Authority (ETA) has proposed an alternative temporary solution along the C9 Corridor.
It was agreed that measures would be taken to rationalise costs, while stakeholder engagement, including consultations with SANTACO, would be given priority.
A Task Team meeting is scheduled for 03 February 2026, to be attended by the City Manager, to confirm project costs, identify funding, finalise stakeholder acceptance, and determine the implementation mechanism.
Feedback will be formally provided to Oceans Umhlanga on 06 February 2026.
Oceans Umhlanga, through Vivian Reddy, reiterated the urgency of resolving the matter, citing ongoing safety risks to the public, as well as significant commercial losses arising from contractual defaults linked to the delays.
Mbhele apologised to developers for the delays.
The meeting also addressed the deviation plan and parking reduction matters at Oceans Umhlanga.
It was further noted that the submitted plans included an expanded parking reduction report, which considers digital mobility, parking utilisation, the development’s special zone status, and its designation as a Catalytic Project.
The City was requested to give due consideration to these additional factors.
The VEMCO Node 6 Development was noted as making substantial progress, following approvals for the M27 and M4 upgrades by SANRAL.
The shopping mall is in its final construction phase, with an anticipated opening in October 2026, alongside planned hotel developments ranging from three- to five-star offerings.
Mbhele stressed the urgency for ETA to fast-track outstanding amendments and maintain close engagement with developers to meet agreed timelines.
Find out more about Catalytic Projects—planned and in progress—in and around Durban / eThekwini Municipality:
