Government commends eThekwini Municipality on employment gains
Government congratulates the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality and commends Executive Mayor Cyril Xaba for recording the lowest unemployment rate among South Africa’s metropolitan municipalities in the second quarter of 2026, as revealed in the latest Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS).
The latest figures further indicate that KwaZulu-Natal was the only province in South Africa to record an increase in employment during the first quarter of 2026, demonstrating encouraging progress in job creation and economic activity in the province.
These developments are a testament to the continued work to consolidate progress made through the Presidential Working Group on eThekwini, which brings together national, provincial and local government to address the challenges facing the metro and accelerate its economic and social development. The Presidential eThekwini Working Group has advanced several key infrastructure, economic, and water-security interventions aimed at unlocking development in the City.
The Presidential Working Group has provided a coordinated platform for government to identify challenges affecting eThekwini, strengthen implementation and align interventions across the three spheres of government. The progress also reinforces the importance of this coordinated approach and the need to sustain the momentum generated through the work of the Group.
The positive employment figures are an example of the tangible impact that sustained government interventions can have in improving economic opportunities and livelihoods. Government will continue to build on this momentum, working through the Presidential Working Group and other collaborative platforms, to ensure that progress translates into meaningful and lasting opportunities for the people of eThekwini and KwaZulu-Natal.
Media enquiries:
Nomonde Mnukwa
Acting Government Spokesperson
Cell: 083 653 7485
William Baloyi
Deputy Government Spokesperson
Cell: 083 210 6776
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