Ramaphosa Says When Durban prospers, South Africa benefits

President Cyril Ramaphosa has described Durban as a key driver of South Africa’s economy and a vital hub for trade, logistics and tourism. Speaking at the 170th Annual Gala Dinner of the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Wednesday evening, he said the city’s success is closely tied to the country’s broader fortunes.

“When Durban prospers, South Africa benefits,” Ramaphosa told business leaders, entrepreneurs and public sector representatives gathered at The Globe in Suncoast, eThekwini. The dinner was held under the theme “Building Confidence Together”.

The Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry, founded in 1856, is Southern Africa’s oldest and largest metropolitan chamber. Ramaphosa noted that the chamber’s long history reflects the story of South Africa itself. He acknowledged the challenges the city has faced in recent years, including the July 2021 unrest and the devastating floods of 2022. Despite these setbacks, he said Durban has shown resilience and continued to recover and rebuild.

The president stressed that a prosperous Durban must include more of its people in the economy. He pointed to the city’s rich history of entrepreneurship and called for greater support for township and rural enterprises. He also urged the business community to open more opportunities for women and young people and to nurture the next generation of business leaders.

“The story of Durban is still being written,” Ramaphosa said. “This is a city that has overcome adversity before. It has the people, the skills, the infrastructure, the entrepreneurial spirit and the strategic position to become one of Africa’s great centres of commerce and industry.”

His address comes against the backdrop of ongoing collaboration between government and the private sector in eThekwini. In 2024, the president established the Presidential eThekwini Working Group together with the Chamber to tackle issues such as water supply interruptions, ageing infrastructure, crime, declining tourism numbers and inefficiencies at the Port of Durban.

Business leaders at the dinner were reminded of the importance of working together to restore confidence and drive growth. The event forms part of efforts to strengthen the relationship between government and the private sector as the city seeks to expand its role in trade, logistics and tourism.

Ramaphosa’s message was clear: the economic health of Durban matters not only for the people of KwaZulu-Natal but for the whole of South Africa. With local government elections taking place next week, the focus on building confidence and unlocking the city’s potential remains a central part of the conversation between government and business.

Source: https://x.com/SABCNews/status/2115525958623240676