City's land ownership and property development journey

In eThekwini, we oversee more than 569 000 properties valued at R716 billion

- MUSA MBHELE

PROPERTY is power. Land is legacy. In eThekwini, these are not just words, they are a call to action.

At the heart of our progress lies a simple truth: land and property are not passive assets, they are catalysts. They determine the shape of our cities, the pace of our growth, and the inclusivity of our economies.

In eThekwini, we oversee more than 569 000 properties valued at R716 billion, with over 51 000 new properties added in just eight years. In 2024 alone, the supplementary roll added 8 900 properties worth R25 billion of property value. Approximately 5 000 of those were new properties valued at R8 billion. This is not only growth, but also economic transformation in real terms.

We are also rethinking how to unlock state-owned and underutilised land. Since launching the Proactive Land Release Strategy, the City has released 97 properties, spanning 38 hectares, with a capital value of R922 million and awarded 20 properties, measuring 11 hectares, with a capital value of R553 million and R4.3 billion in capital investment expected.

The release of eight train station sites by Intersite Asset Management, a Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) entity, and further properties by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure are powerful signals that the public sector is clearing the way for the private sector to build.

Still, we must remain bold in our strategies, particularly when it comes to dealing with bad buildings that are no longer fit for habitation. These are not just eyesores and health hazards; they are ticking time bombs. However, we are proud to have already demolished about 17 buildings, and 11 are currently out on tender for refurbishment.