The 2026
ethekwini Manifesto
A City That Works for All
This is more than a document. It’s a promise. A roadmap to restore dignity, opportunity, fairness and safety in eThekwini. It’s built by listening, by real conversations on the ground — and it’s ready to be built together.
Core Pillars & Commitments
Reliable Basic Services
- Water that runs. Sewerage under control. Streetlights on. Roads repaired.
- Proactive maintenance, prioritising high-need wards first.
Economic Growth & Jobs
- Attract investment. Support small business. Train youth. Leverage Durban’s port, logistics and tourism strengths.
Transparent, Accountable Government
- Addressing cost burdens on low-income families by stopping wasteful spending and renegotiating contracts.
- Target: Recover the uncollected revenue (~ R40 billion) and redirect it into service delivery.
Affordable Living
- Addressing cost burdens on low-income families by stopping wasteful spending and renegotiating contracts.
- Target: Recover the uncollected revenue (~ R40 billion) and redirect it into service delivery.
Housing & Infrastructure
- Speed up informal settlement upgrading, integrate neglected neighbourhoods, improve public transport.
- Not a 90-year plan — deliver measurable progress in this term.
Safe & United Communities
- Improved lighting, clean streets, community policing.
- Residents across all wards feel safe, included and respected.