Durban ready for holiday season

Durban ready for holiday season eThekwini Municipality Mayor Cyril Xaba says the city is prepared to welcome more than a million visitors and deliver a safe, vibrant, and memorable festive season. Xaba unveiled the city’s Festive Season Management Plan, which outlined major improvements in service delivery, strengthened safety measures, and a robust tourism programme designed to deliver what the city has branded an “Endless Waves of Tranquillity” festive experience. Xaba said this year’s festive season comes at a time of renewed optimism for Durban, especially following significant progress in water and sanitation services. For the first time in five years, all major bulk water reservoirs, including Durban Heights, Wiggins, and Midmar Treatment Works, are operating at full capacity. “This means that communities in the north, south, and central regions will enjoy uninterrupted water supply during this period and beyond,” Xaba said. Xaba reported strong improvements in coastal management, noting that water quality tests confirmed all 23 of Durban’s bathing beaches are safe for swimming. “We reiterate to our visitors and residents that all our beaches are open and safe. Since the 2022 floods, we have worked diligently to repair and upgrade sewer infrastructure, particularly systems affecting our coastline. “We continue to monitor beach water quality through weekly testing, and we are confident that this progress puts us firmly on the path toward achieving Blue Flag status. We are also pleased to report that more than 40 swimming pools will be open to the public, including the popular Children’s Amusement Centre pool,” Xaba said. Misinformation The Mayor condemned what he described as ongoing “smear campaigns” aimed at discouraging tourists from visiting Durban, including the spread of misinformation about beach water results. “Let me state categorically: we are fully transparent with our beach water results, which we publish regularly on our website. We also welcome collaboration with independent laboratories for joint testing to verify and compare results,” he said. Over one million visitors expected Xaba said the city expects to welcome 1.3 million visitors this summer, generating a direct spend of more than R341 million and contributing a total contribution of R845 million to gross domestic product (GDP). “This economic activity will help create over 15 000 jobs and generate more than R630 million in taxes. Tourism continues an upward economic trajectory. Recent data from South African Tourism shows exceptional growth across both domestic and international markets. “Domestic tourism spend increased by 28%, reaching R8.4 billion between January and October 2025, driven by a growing demand for experience-led activities. International visitor spend rose by 29% to R1.1 billion, supported by high-growth markets such as Australia, the UAE, and Botswana,” Xaba said. A festive programme “like no other” This year’s festive season features a packed entertainment line-up, including the Durban Jazz Festival, Fact Durban Rocks New Year’s Celebration, Ladysmith Black Mambazo Christmas Special, and the “Anywhere In Your City” programme. “We will also host a series of precinct activations during the festive season, including the City Street Carnival, Christmas lighting displays, the revival of major hotel celebrations, and New Year’s Eve fireworks at the beachfront. With the cruise season having officially commenced in November, Durban is welcoming a spectacular lineup of vessels and a diverse influx of international tourists.” Enhanced law-enforcement visibility The Mayor further assured all visitors that there will be enhanced law-enforcement visibility across the city, with increased policing in entertainment areas. “Multidisciplinary operations, including roadblocks, focusing on reckless driving, unroadworthy vehicles and drinking and driving, will be conducted. Over 2 000 officers will be deployed for day and night-time patrols on freeways, the beachfront, shopping centres, and crime hotspots. These efforts are supported by our network of more than 500 CCTV cameras. “To further strengthen safety, our newly established Coastal and Tourism Policing Unit will patrol 100 kilometres of coastline, from Umkhomazi in the south to Westbrook in the north. This unit underscores our commitment to ensuring that both residents and visitors enjoy a safe environment in our beaches,” the mayor said. To increase beachfront safety and service capacity, the city has hired 650 seasonal staff, including 78 lifeguards, 135 litter pickers, 67 beach guides, 70 pool supervisors, 113 pool attendants, 43 childminders, and 135 security guards Additional measures include seven tents for separated children, an overnight facility at Ellis Brown Primary School, and 200 000 armbands to help identify lost children. With strengthened infrastructure, expanded safety measures, and an extensive holiday entertainment programme, Xaba expressed full confidence in the city’s festive season readiness. “With all these measures in place, we are confident that we will deliver a safe, vibrant, and memorable festive season. Durban is ready.” – SAnews.gov.za
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