Few would argue that recent years have been kind to Durban, the largest city in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province. It was Durban and its environs that bore the brunt of riots sparked by the imprisonment of disgraced former president Jacob Zuma in July 2021. Several hundred people were killed as parts of the city and suburbs descended into anarchy. Economic damage reached as high as 70bn rand ($4.3bn).
This was followed in 2022 by devastating floods that killed over 400 people. The inundations damaged already fragile water infrastructure, leading to worsening E. coli outbreaks at Durban's beaches that undermined the city's tourism appeal.
To make matters worse, some of the pillars of Durban's economy have been badly shaken as a result of neglect and poor governance. While the Port of Durban is the largest in sub-Saharan Africa, it has suffered severe logistical problems in recent years. In 2023, backlogs at the port forced some 79 ships to loiter at sea, leading to major disruption to supply chains and significant financial costs for shipping companies.
Against this bleak backdrop and wider urban decline in South Africa, Durban is attempting a bold reinvention, with plans to bring massive investment into a waterfront development project.
Originally published by African Business.