ETHEKWINI, KwaZulu-Natal — The eThekwini mayoral race is rapidly intensifying as the November local government elections approach, with incumbent ANC mayor Cyril Xaba stepping forward to detail his administration’s roadmap for the municipality. As at least four political parties officially unveil their candidates, Xaba is anchoring his campaign on a promise of uninterrupted governance, emphasizing critical upgrades to water infrastructure, aggressive job creation, and sustained service delivery.
Addressing speculation around the ANC’s internal candidate selection, Xaba firmly stated that residents need not worry about a leadership void. He confirmed his official designation as the mayoral candidate, arguing that his ongoing municipal projects require steady hands. He framed the upcoming vote as a choice for stability, noting that voters are primarily concerned with practical outcomes: reducing unemployment, stimulating economic and tourism growth, and maintaining basic municipal services like verge cutting and pothole repairs.
Water security remains a dominant election issue. While acknowledging intermittent supply disruptions in specific zones, Xaba rejected the narrative that eThekwini’s water challenges are uniquely severe compared to national trends. He pointed to the ongoing R1.2 billion southern aqueduct project—a 24-kilometer initiative replacing a deteriorating 70-year-old concrete pipeline—as the definitive solution for southern supply interruptions. This follows the successful deployment of the northern aqueduct, which has already stabilized water access in Verulam, Phoenix, and Tongaat.
Looking ahead, Xaba explained that by the end of the year, the southern pipeline’s commissioning will be complemented by a new bulk water scheme. This project will introduce 100 megaliters of water per day into the system, with 70% pumped directly to Durban. This augmented capacity will allow the municipality to dynamically balance and divert water between the northern and southern regions, pushing reliable supply to communities like Fin, Zambini, and Toyani, and effectively resolving intermittent disruptions.
In response to concerns about water losses, Xaba confirmed the city is slated to receive R379 million specifically to combat leaks tied to aging infrastructure. However, he clarified the concept of “non-revenue water.” He explained that a significant portion of this is not physical ground leakage, but rather unmetered water supplied to 607 informal settlements and rural communities, such as Wangosi. Emphasizing that “water is life, sanitation is dignity,” he noted that the lack of bulk metering in these areas means essential service delivery does not translate into municipal revenue, even as physical pipe replacements continue to reduce actual system leaks.
Shifting to economic development, Xaba highlighted the Cornubia Business Park as a flagship R2.1 billion investment. Following a recent progress inspection, he confirmed the project is on schedule for a December 16 completion. The development is projected to generate over 2,000 permanent jobs, having already created approximately 300 positions during its construction phase.
The Cornubia project is part of a wider economic surge in the region. Xaba cited a R10.5 billion dry port development in the outer west, a R10.4 billion expansion by Toyota in southern Durban, and a massive R32.4 billion investment pipeline in northern Durban. He directly linked this influx of capital to the city’s recent success in driving down local unemployment rates.
On public safety, the mayor referenced July crime statistics, celebrating a 28% reduction in crime levels within the local policing jurisdiction. Addressing commuter frustrations, he also tackled the prolonged construction on the highway connecting Durban and Pietermaritzburg. While deferring the exact completion timeline to the relevant roads authority, he defended the phased construction method. He likened the complex logistics to “fixing an aircraft whilst flying it,” explaining that keeping the arterial route partially open was a deliberate choice to prevent catastrophic disruptions to the provincial economy, even if it extends the overall project duration.
Despite the competitive political landscape, Xaba’s administration recently garnered praise for the visible revitalization of the Durban beachfront. Closing his remarks, the incumbent mayor maintained that his tangible track record in managing complex municipal challenges is the strongest argument for his retention as the leader of eThekwini.
