eThekwini Municipality city manager Musa Mbhele has defended his leadership amid criticism, arguing that Durban has undergone steady improvement in service delivery, infrastructure development, and investment attraction.

Speaking to the Daily News, Mbhele highlighted his 16-year experience within the municipality as a foundation for understanding the city’s historical challenges and implementing corrective interventions.

He stressed that since taking on the acting city manager role in June 2021, particularly during a period marked by civil unrest and severe flooding in KwaZulu-Natal, the municipality has shown resilience and recovery capacity.

Mbhele noted that the city responded quickly to the 2022 floods, restoring basic functionality within 24 hours, and has since improved responsiveness to service delivery complaints, reducing delays experienced by residents.

He also emphasised efforts to improve Durban’s investment climate by providing more structured engagement with developers and prioritising economic growth initiatives.

Key infrastructure and tourism-related projects, including beachfront upgrades, were cited as part of efforts to reposition Durban as a leading destination for both tourism and investment.

The city manager further pointed to strong visitor numbers, stating that Durban recorded its busiest festive season since before COVID-19 and the floods, with approximately 1.5 million tourists visiting the city.

He also highlighted ongoing inner-city renewal projects, some involving multi-billion-rand investments through public-private partnerships, aimed at revitalising urban spaces and stimulating economic activity.

On the municipality’s financial health, Mbhele rejected claims of imminent collapse, referencing investment grading and credit ratings as indicators of stability, alongside a revenue collection rate of between 94% and 96%.

However, opposition parties, including the Democratic Alliance, have raised concerns about rising water losses, increasing irregular expenditure, and growing municipal debt.

Despite these criticisms, Mbhele maintained that the city is focused on inclusive economic growth, township revitalisation, and long-term sustainability to address historical inequalities and build a more resilient metropolitan economy.