Industrial and warehousing developments helped lift the value of building plans approved by eThekwini Municipality to R3.97 billion in the first half of 2026, the city said.

The total represented an 18% increase from the same period in 2025 and a 24% rise compared with the first six months of 2024.

Growth was driven by non-residential developments, with the value of approved plans rising 166% from R536 million to R1.43 billion.

Approvals for industrial and warehousing developments increased by 167% in value, while their approved floor space grew from 24,497 square metres to 83,708 square metres.

The value of approvals for office and banking developments rose by 158%, while approvals in the municipality’s northern region nearly doubled to R1.16 billion.

The municipality said the figures coincided with improvements in two economic indicators.

Statistics South Africa’s Quarterly Labour Force Survey recorded eThekwini’s unemployment rate at 21.2% in the second

Subscribe to read the full article.

The post Industrial projects lift eThekwini building plan approvals to R3.97 billion appeared first on Inside Metros.

Two Ray Nkonyeni municipal bodyguards were arrested on Friday on KwaZulu-Natal’s South Coast for allegedly misusing blue lights and driving recklessly in an official BMW X5. 

The arrests are part of the #NenzaniLaEzweni Operation, which has been ramped up before the festive season — traditionally a time of increased fatal road accidents provincially and nationally.  

“They were travelling alone without the deputy mayor, who was in a full council meeting. The two bodyguards are facing charges of reckless driving, illegal use of blue lights, impersonating a police officer, and for carrying a firearm without a firearm licence,” said the province’s transport MEC, Siboniso Duma.  

The blue lights were confiscated and handed to the police as evidence, while the vehicle was impounded. 

Duma said the municipal manager promised to “ensure consequence management”. 

The operation, which took place in Park Rynie and was led by the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI),

Subscribe to read the full article.

The post ‘Blue light’ municipal bodyguards, medical doctor, undocumented Zim truck driver busted in KZN crackdown appeared first on Inside Metros.

Thapelo Mpatlanyane

uMngeni Local Municipality has been ranked the top municipality in KwaZulu-Natal for ensuring households have access to essential services, according to the Provincial Spatial Integration Report 2024/25.

The report, released by the KwaZulu-Natal government, measures how well municipalities provide residents with basic services and socio-economic opportunities.

uMngeni achieved a 93.75% access score, which reflects the percentage of households with access to sufficient water, basic sanitation, refuse removal, electricity for lighting, housing and environmental health, safe and healthy living environments, healthcare services, and food security.

Mayor Christopher Pappas welcomed the results, saying they are proof of the municipality’s commitment to improving the daily lives of residents.

“This ranking is a reflection of the hard work of our council, administration, and community partners in ensuring that residents of uMngeni live with dignity, security, and access to the most basic services. While there is still work to be done, we are

Subscribe to read the full article.

The post uMngeni tops KZN for access to basic services appeared first on Inside Metros.

Decisive measures to address the governance and service delivery challenges in the uMdoni local municipality have been announced by KwaZulu-Natal cooperative governance and traditional affairs MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi.

The MEC met council members on Monday to communicate the provincial executive’s decision to intervene in the municipality under Section 154(1) of the Constitution.

This follows extensive engagements with the municipality and community members aimed at restoring stability.

Section 154(1) mandates national and provincial governments, through legislative and other measures, to support and strengthen the capacity of municipalities to manage their own affairs and to exercise their powers and functions.

Buthelezi also announced that local government specialist, Dhanpalan Devaraj Naidoo, would be appointed to guide the municipality through its current challenges.

“Naidoo is a seasoned local government specialist whose wealth of experience is unquestionable. We believe his expertise will be crucial in stabilising the municipality,” he said in a

Subscribe to read the full article.

The post KZN government steps in to stabilise uMdoni municipality appeared first on Inside Metros.

Traditional Affairs MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi has warned that the conditions posed a danger to life and could lead to temporary road closures.

The South African Weather Service has issued a warning of the level six disruptive snow expected to affect parts of the uThukela, Harry Gwala and uMgungundlovu Districts. And the rest of the province will be impacted by a level two warning for disruptive rain.

Buthelezi has urged residents to take the necessary precautions, including delaying unnecessary trips.

He has assured residents that teams coordinated by the provincial disaster management centre were on the ground and would closely monitor developments.

“These teams are equipped to respond to emergencies and provide assistance where needed. Plans are also in place to clear roads in collaboration with local municipalities and the Department of Transport,” Buthelezi said.

“This coordinated effort aims to ensure that major routes are accessible and that any

Subscribe to read the full article.

The post KZN warns residents to take care as severe weather heads their way appeared first on Inside Metros.

The Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB is exploring the possibility of establishing a new metro in KwaZulu-Natal, which could mark the addition of South Africa’s ninth metro.

Board chairperson Thabo Manyoni said on Wednesday that a decision on the feasibility of the new metro, potentially merging the Msunduzi and Richmond local municipalities, is expected before the 2026 local government elections.

The discussions form part of a broader strategy to improve governance and service delivery in the region.

The proposed metro aims to address the growing administrative needs and population dynamics of the area.

However, it remains uncertain if the metro can be fully established in time for the upcoming local elections.

Manyoni emphasised the board’s commitment to a thorough research and consultation process that incorporates the input from all affected by the decision.

“We are dedicated to ensuring that any new metro is viable and meets the needs

Subscribe to read the full article.

The post KZN may get a new metro appeared first on Inside Metros.

An intensive police awareness campaign against sexual offences-related crimes has yielded positive results with a decline in the number of sexual offences registered in the country. 

According to the quarterly crime statistics, reflecting on crimes that occurred between 01 October 2023 to 31 December 2023, sexual offences crimes, including rape, sexual assault and contact sexual offences, registered an overall 1.7% decline during the period.

Presenting the crime stats on Friday, Police Minister, Bheki Cele, said rape declined by 1.7% with six provinces, including Gauteng, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Northern Cape, and Western Cape, all registering a decline in this crime category.

The report also showed that more than 2 400 suspect raids led to 4 264 suspects being arrested for Gender-Based Violence and Femicide-related (GBVF) crimes, including rape and sexual assault. 

A total of 112 life sentences were handed down to 89 rapists, while 64 rapists and GBVF

Subscribe to read the full article.

The post Police Minister Bheki Cele says there is a slight decrease in reported rape cases appeared first on Inside Metros.

KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs MEC Siboniso Duma has announced that the KwaZulu-Natal government has decided to no longer contribute R20 million towards the hosting of the 29th South African Music Awards (Samas).

Speaking at a media briefing on Wednesday, MEC Duma said that the matter had been highly politicised by opposition parties, following public outcry over government expenditure.

“The return of investment was going to be at the value of around R450 million and it was going to be depending on another score because you will find that each time there is an event taking place in the province, a lot of investment might come after it because if you are going to host the Samas for the next three years, there are strategic people that are going to come. Sama’s are like Grammy’s in South Africa,” Duma said.

The provincial business hub

Subscribe to read the full article.

The post KwaZulu-Natal puts the breaks on the Samas after public outcry over its R20 million sponsorship appeared first on Inside Metros.

THE eThekwini Mayor, Mxolisi Kaunda, unveiled a new R28 million water reservoir in Shongweni during a media briefing on Friday.

In line with Women’s Month, Mayor Kaunda, highlighted the disproportionate burden water shortages hold on women over men in finding practical alternatives to water shortages.

“When there’s a water shortage, it’s predominantly women and girls who shoulder the responsibility of water collection. Enhanced access to water services means these women can redirect their energies towards more productive activities, such as education and economic empowerment,” Kaunda remarked.

In the aftermath of the floods of April 2022, Kaunda praised the swift response by the metro in repairing and restoring infrastructure and the water supply to communities affected by the damage.

The mayor announced that 115 water and sanitation projects have been approved, with funding by a R200 million flood relief grant from the National Treasury.

This follows on increasing completion

Subscribe to read the full article.

The post Durban Mayor Unveils Water Reservoir as the latest to Empower Women and Rebuild Infrastructure appeared first on Inside Metros.

A conflict is brewing between Kwazulu Natal Mayor Chris Pappa and Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube over her service delivery imbizo.

The imbizo is scheduled for Saturday, 15 July at Mpophomeni Stadium, where the local municipality is also expected to host a sports event on the same day.

Pappas’ saw red after Dube-Ncube took a swipe at him on Tuesday during her media session at a meeting of poorly-performing KZN municipalities in Durban by labelling his move as a “feeble and illegal attempt to interfere with a government imbizo”.

The Mayor then accused Dube-Ncube of not following the correct way in organising the imbizo.  
Pappas shot back saying there are several irregularities with the event and the imposition of an intervention on uMngeni. 

Dube-Ncube insists her imbizo will go ahead on Saturday but Pappas said the Premier is welcome to host her imbizo, but not at the stadium. 

INSIDE METROS

Subscribe to read the full article.

The post KwaZulu Natal Premier and Mayor at loggerheads over stadium bookings appeared first on Inside Metros.