EThekwini mayoral candidates have outlined competing plans to attract investment and create jobs in the district, with proposals ranging from tackling crime and improving municipal services to supporting small businesses, cutting red tape and strengthening accountability.
During IOL’s Town Hall Debate on Wednesday, the candidates were asked why investors should choose eThekwini when uncertainty over municipal services, infrastructure and administration could increase the cost and risk of doing business.
The discussion focused on investor confidence, the city’s infrastructure, youth employment and whether the municipality could provide the stable environment businesses need to grow.
MK Party puts security at the centre of its investment plan
MK Party representative Thami Mkhize said the city needed to strengthen security to reassure investors and encourage them to bring their businesses to eThekwini.
He proposed an integrated policing policy involving neighbourhood watches, active CCTV cameras and drones to monitor suspicious activity.
Mkhize also said the municipality should recognise and support informal traders so they could grow their businesses rather than remain on the streets without opportunities to expand.
He proposed bringing back entertainment events, including jazz festivals, to attract tourists, encourage hotel bookings and draw more visitors to the city’s beaches.
EFF mayoral candidate Hlengiwe Mkhaliphi challenged the emphasis on jazz festivals, questioning whether the proposal adequately considered the needs of older people. She also questioned the MK Party’s political identity, pointing to its breakaway from the ANC and Jacob Zuma’s nine years as president.
ANC cites investment and job creation figures
ANC eThekwini convenor Thabani Nyawose defended eThekwini’s economic performance, saying recent Statistics South Africa reports showed that the municipality had created more jobs than other metros.
Businesses were becoming more confident in the city and he argued that it was moving in the right direction.
Nyawose said eThekwini had attracted more than 227 investments linked to its catalytic projects.
“We are going to create plus or minus 30 000 temporary jobs," in addition to permanent jobs, he said.
The figures and projected jobs formed part of the ANC candidate’s argument that the city was attracting investment and creating employment opportunities.
ERPM questions MK Party’s readiness to govern
Asad Gaffar of the eThekwini Ratepayers Political Movement (ERPM) criticised some of the MK Party’s proposals, describing them as unrealistic.
“Some of the proposals put through by the MK are really comic books,” Gaffar said.
He argued that the party would face challenges if it took control of the municipality, saying the administration would remain under ANC control.
Gaffar also warned that the MK Party would have to overcome concerns among investors who viewed it as disruptive and chaotic.
Mkhize rejected the suggestion that an ANC-controlled administration would prevent the party from implementing its plans. He pointed to his background in ethics and corporate governance in the public and private sectors.
Mkhize added that the party knew where to begin in addressing the municipality’s finances, compliance and audit issues.
DA says infrastructure failures threaten jobs
Democratic Alliance (DA) representative Alicia Kissoon questioned the MK Party’s record in government, arguing that its track record in securing and retaining investment was poor.
eThekwini needed to retain existing businesses and attract new investors, while infrastructure failures were undermining the city’s economic prospects.
“Many businesses are closed due to infrastructure not being up to standard,” Kissoon said.
She also pointed to Durban's International Convention Centre (ICC), arguing that it was not operating at the standard required to realise its economic potential.
Kissoon said the city needed to address these shortcomings to improve its prospects of attracting investment and creating employment.
Minority Front calls for stable governance
Minority Front mayoral candidate Shameen Thakur Rajbansi warned that election promises would mean little if the city returned to the same problems after the November elections.
She argued that investors needed consistency and stable government, supported by reliable water and electricity, security, and a peaceful environment.
Thakur Rajbansi said the city needed to provide a reliable environment for businesses rather than make promises that were not followed through after the elections.
IFP calls for accountability and clean governance
IFP mayoral candidate Selvan Govender said changing political leadership would not necessarily change how the city was run.
“Changing your shirt won't change your mindset, nor will it change the city,” Govender said.
He argued that attracting investment required accountability, open governance and clean audits so residents and businesses could trust municipal officials and political leaders.
Govender also criticised the lack of visible consequences in cases of wrongdoing involving municipal officials, saying the public often heard about cases but did not see action being taken.
He said accountability needed to be a priority for whichever party or coalition took control of the municipality.
ActionSA wants less red tape for businesses
ActionSA mayoral candidate Zwakele Mncwango said unreliable municipal services and high costs made it difficult to attract investment.
Small businesses were central to the local economy and should receive greater support from the municipality.
Mncwango also called for unnecessary red tape to be removed, particularly in the processes businesses had to follow to obtain planning approvals and development rights.
He questioned why applicants faced lengthy processes just to secure permission to develop property.
Mncwango said corruption was another deterrent for investors, particularly when businesses faced demands for bribes to obtain zoning rights.
He argued that supporting small businesses, reducing administrative barriers and tackling corruption would help attract investment and create jobs.
MK Party proposes apprenticeships for young people
Mkhize said the MK Party wanted to attract direct investment and encourage businesses that had left eThekwini to return.
He cited Clairwood, which he described as a former textile hub, as an area where the party wanted to bring businesses back.
Mkhize said crime had weakened investor confidence and that improving security would be essential to encouraging businesses to return.
He also proposed reviving apprenticeships to help young people gain skills and enter the workforce.
Under the proposal, young people would be paid while training and would then be absorbed by the companies involved.
Mkhize said the initiative would support youth development and create employment opportunities.
IOL News