Big economic boost for eThekwini as festive season gets under way
As the festive season goes into full swing, eThekwini Municipality was expecting a cash injection of about R1.22 billion from the long weekend that ended on Monday with the Day of Reconciliation.
The City’s spokesperson, Mduduzi Ncalane, said: “We project a GDP impact of R1.22 billion along with an estimated employment figure of 2218.
“With accommodation occupancy at 77% and expected visitor spending of R495 million over the long weekend, the City stands to benefit significantly.
“This surge in economic activity, fuelled by high occupancy rates and robust visitor expenditure, not only enhances the local economy but also sustains employment and contributes to the City’s economic stability.”
Ncalane said the City expects the number of visitors to surge compared to last year.
“We are looking at an occupancy rate of around 75% for this festive season, conservative – we are expecting the actuals to be higher. Several factors contribute to this positive outlook. First, we have seen a growing trend in both domestic and international travel, as more people are eager to explore and enjoy their holiday season.
“Additionally, our marketing efforts and promotional activities have been strategically enhanced this year, attracting a wider audience and encouraging longer stays.
“Furthermore, the local economy is showing signs of recovery, which typically results in increased travel and leisure activities during the festive period. We believe that these elements combined will not only boost our occupancy rates but also contribute to a vibrant atmosphere for visitors”.
The city is also beefing up its security measures, with more than 500 new metro police having been added in a bid to fight crime in the city.
“The City has deployed a significant number of metro police officers on the streets, bolstered by the recent addition of over 500 new officers, unveiled this week.
“The induction and deployment of these recruits reaffirm the City’s commitment to enhancing safety and security. As part of the City’s comprehensive safety strategy, metro police, in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies, are ensuring high visibility at key tourist hotspots. Safety measures include access-controlled roads, a free park-and-ride system, and over 170 high-performance vehicles,” said Ncalane.
Inanda and uMlazi under eThekwini were cited as the crime hotspots in the recent crime statistics released by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu.
On the beaches, Ncalane said: “There are also 20 beaches in Durban that are open and safe for swimming. These beaches have met either excellent or acceptable bathing water quality standards.”
The 20 beaches that are open and safe for public use include uShaka, Addington, Battery Beach, Bay of Plenty, Point Beach, North Beach, South Beach, Wedge Beach, Thekwini Beach, Laguna Beach, Country Club, Mdloti Main, uMhlanga Main, Bronze Beach, Umgababa, Brighton, Winkelespruit, Toti Main Beach, Pipeline Beach and Warner Beach.
“The municipality faces persistent challenges of theft, vandalism, and improper waste disposal, leading to sewer blockages and overflows. Items such as hardened fats, rags, disposable nappies, and other foreign objects are major causes of these blockages, as the sewer system is designed to handle only water, human waste, and tissue,” said Ncalane.
The municipality urged residents and businesses to adopt proper waste management practices and avoid vandalising sewer infrastructure and improper disposal of waste that led to pollution “negatively impacting the environment, rivers, and beaches”.
Metro police spokesperson Colonel Boysie Zungu warned would-be road transgressors.
“We are warning people during this festive season not to drink and drive. We will arrest people who drive while drunk because we have cited this as one of the causes, among many, of road accidents,” said Zungu.
Sifiso Shangase, the provincial spokesperson for the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco), said: “We will make sure that we monitor all our drivers to mitigate against any road accidents on our side as the taxi industry. As we speak now, every day we are at taxi ranks, especially the long distance, assessing all our vehicles.”
The MEC for Transport and Human Settlements in KZN, Siboniso Duma, has embarked on a series of road safety measures in the province.
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