Durban:President Cyril Ramaphosa has assured communities and businesses in eThekwini that the government is increasing efforts to ensure safety following recent incidents of looting and vandalism targeting small businesses in the metro, as well as the murder of a foreign national in the Durban CBD.
According to South African Government News Agency, President Ramaphosa delivered the keynote address at the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s 170th Annual Gala Dinner. In his speech, he highlighted the deployment of 510 South African National Defence Force (SANDF) members to KwaZulu-Natal under Operation Prosper to bolster law enforcement efforts.
The President acknowledged the uncertainty these incidents have caused for businesses, recalling the unrest of 2021. He emphasized the importance of social stability for business prosperity and condemned the recent acts of violence, intimidation, and attacks on businesses as intolerable.
President Ramaphosa also warned against using concerns about illegal immigration as a pretext for criminal activities or division within communities. With the Local Government Elections approaching, he urged citizens to vote for progress and recovery, emphasizing the need for stable leadership in eThekwini.
The Local Government Elections are scheduled to take place on 4 November 2026.
