The eThekwini Municipality has invested R260m in informal trading infrastructure over three financial years, upgrading markets and trading facilities to improve working conditions and unlock economic opportunities.
Source: Ammodo Architecture.
The investment, highlighted at the fifth eThekwini Informal Economy Summit at the Durban Exhibition Centre, forms part of efforts to strengthen small businesses and support livelihoods across the city.
With further developments planned, the programme aims to expand trading opportunities and create better-equipped spaces for informal businesses.
The summit - which brought together traders, government departments, financial institutions and other stakeholders - provided a platform to explore funding and growth opportunities as well as showcase existing support programmes, outline future plans, and identify practical ways to strengthen businesses and grow the informal economy.
Presentations covered capital projects, destination markets, the state of the city’s informal economy, spaza shop funding, township economic development and banking solutions.
Informal economy impact
Traders also viewed a video showcasing completed projects, including the recently launched Mansel Road Market and Lucky Mngwengwe Traders Precinct, as well as progress on developments currently underway.
In attendance was eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba who described the informal economy as a critical source of livelihoods and employment in the city.
According to Statistics South Africa’s Quarterly Labour Force Survey, approximately 260,000 people in eThekwini work in the informal sector, including approximately 75,000 in informal trade. The city recorded an unemployment rate of 21.2% in the second quarter of 2026, the lowest among South Africa’s metropolitan municipalities.
“The informal economy plays a vital role in the lives of eThekwini residents. It creates employment opportunities, supports families, and grows our local communities,” Xaba said.
Award-winning traders
The summit also recognised 32 informal traders from across the city at the Informal Traders Recognition Awards, across four categories: Youth-Owned Business, Innovative Business, Job Creation and Outstanding Compliance with Municipal By-laws.
Winners represented diverse sectors, including hair and beauty, fashion, automotive services, recycling, photography, herbal trading and food retail.
Innovative ventures recognised included an internet café, drone services and beauty and massage services.
The prize money totalled R224,000, while Standard Bank provided each winner with a point-of-sale device valued at R6,000 to enable electronic payments.
Thembo Ntuli, chairperson of eThekwini Municipality’s Economic Development and Planning Committee, reported progress on commitments made at the previous summit, including refurbishing more than 200 trading sites, constructing the Brook Street storage facility in the central business district and securing funding for upgrades at Bridge City, where work is expected to begin in December 2026.
Additional projects are in the final stages of approval for implementation over the next three years. The planned developments include small business facilities, storage infrastructure, container trading sites at Sbusiso Mdakane and BB Section in uMlazi, the Berea Herb Market, the Bovine Head Market in Warwick Junction near Dalton and the KwaMashu motor repair site.
