The Democratic Alliance North Durban Constituency vehemently condemns yet another drunken brawl in upmarket Umhlanga on Saturday night. What was once the jewel of KwaZulu-Natal’s tourism economy is fast becoming a modern-day Wild West.
The severe lack of visible policing by Metro Police and SAPS has resulted in lawlessness, with firearms flaunted, drugs openly peddled, restaurants turned into nightclubs, unregulated “DJ battles” raging unchecked and a free for all racetrack on the roads. Compounding this, municipal officials refuse to enforce business licensing during peak hours, citing “no overtime.”
This crisis comes as the ANC-led municipality only now tries to clean up Durban’s decayed CBD, 30 years later. The question must be asked: is the neglect of Umhlanga – Durban’s new CBD and economic hub – an attempt to drive investment away, this time to iLembe in the north.
Tourism is one of Durban’s main economic engines, contributing R7 billion annually and supporting 61 000 jobs. Umhlanga is at the heart of this economy – yet each violent incident damages investor confidence, undermines property values, and drives tourists elsewhere.
The DA therefore calls on:
- The Minister of Police to urgently intervene by upgrading the Umhlanga SAPS station and establishing a satellite station in the Umhlanga CBD to deal effectively with criminal behaviour in Umhlanga.
- The eThekwini City Manager to deploy additional Metro Police and enforce all licensing, trade, and noise by-laws without delay.
If action is not taken, Durban risks losing its most vibrant economic hub to decline and decay.
The DA will continue to fight for safe, law-abiding communities where residents, businesses, and tourists can thrive.