THE recent investment conference attracted close to R125 billion in potential investment in the province, with more than R42 billion expected to be invested in the eThekwini Municipality.
The conference, held recently at the Durban International Convention Centre (ICC), marked another major milestone in the province’s efforts to attract investment, stimulate economic growth and create sustainable employment opportunities for the people of KwaZulu-Natal.
it has " inspired" the province to set an ambitious target of creating one million jobs by 2029, with the eThekwini Municipality expected to drive much of that job creation.
The investment pledges were broken down as follows:
- eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality: R42.838 billion
- King Cetshwayo District: R40.391 billion
- uMgungundlovu District: R27.2 billion
- iLembe District: R4.568 billion
- Ugu District: R4.127 billion
The provincial government said the investments pledged this year are expected to create more than 330,000 new job opportunities. It added that this would offer renewed hope to thousands of households and reinforce KwaZulu-Natal’s position as a leading destination for investment, industrial development and economic expansion.
Premier Thami Ntuli said the figures demonstrated the significant investment potential of eThekwini, King Cetshwayo and uMgungundlovu, while also highlighting opportunities to expand economic activity and attract further investment to other parts of the province.
“We are building on the momentum created over the past three years. The fact that investment pledges have grown from more than R85 billion in 2024 to approximately R101 billion in 2025 and R124.576 billion in 2026 demonstrates the progress we are making in positioning KwaZulu-Natal as an attractive investment destination.
“We must now convert this confidence into implementation, production and employment. Our target of at least one million jobs by 2029 requires us to work with urgency and purpose. We will continue to engage the private sector and our development partners to ensure that investment translates into real opportunities and lasting improvements in the lives of our people,” Premier Ntuli said.
Premier Ntli said the province’s growing investment pipeline was central to the Seventh Administration’s broader ambition of creating at least one million jobs by the end of its term in 2029.
He emphasized that achieving this target would require sustained investment, stronger partnerships with the private sector, the expansion of existing businesses, support for small and medium-sized enterprises, and the acceleration of projects capable of generating employment at scale.
“Our ambition is clear: we want to see at least one million jobs created by the end of this administration’s term in office in 2029. This is a target that requires commitment, hard work and a coordinated effort from government, business and all our social partners.
“The R124.576 billion secured at this year’s investment conference brings us closer to that ambition. The projected 330,000-plus job opportunities demonstrate the potential of investment to change lives, but our focus must remain on ensuring that these commitments translate into actual projects, operating businesses and sustainable employment.”
Ntuli said his government wanted the people of KwaZulu-Natal, particularly young people and those who had been excluded from economic opportunities, to benefit meaningfully from the investments being made in the province.
Of the major projects announced, 18 identifiable projects are linked to eThekwini, representing close to R40 billion in investment. These projects are expected to drive industrial growth, strengthen local manufacturing and create employment opportunities, with implementation planned within 36 months.
eThekwini City Manager Musa Mbhele said the investment pledges reflected the impact of the City’s ongoing efforts to strengthen investor confidence, promote transparent governance and reduce administrative delays.
“These commitments reinforce the importance of our continuous investor engagements, Inner City Regeneration Programme and the City’s Economic Development Incentive Policy in attracting investment, unlocking development opportunities and creating an environment where businesses can grow and create jobs,” said Mbhele.
He concluded: “Durban is open for business. We remain committed to strengthening infrastructure, removing barriers to investment and ensuring that these commitments translate into sustainable economic growth and opportunities for our residents.”