South Durban could host Durban Metro’s second airport due to increases air travel to the city. Durban International Airport, formerly Louis Botha Airport in Prospecton, served as the city’s main Airport until May 2010, when King Shaka International Airport in La Mercy replaced it. This is 35 kilometres away. eThekwini Municipality has announced that plans for a second airport are under exploration for a second airport on the South Coast to improve regional accessibility and boast tourism. City Manager Musa Mbhele revealed the proposal during the Mayoral tourism trade stockholder engagement held in Durban on September 4. The reason for the relocation from Durban International to King Shaka in 2010 was prompted by the former airport’s 2.4 km runway, which was too short for jumbo jets, compared to King Shaka’s 3.7 kms.
Transnet purchased Durban International Airport from Airports Company South Africa for R1.8b in 2012 and leased it to Seaworld in 2017. Seaworld had planned to invest R200m in reviving the facility and reopening it to flights. Still, the project stalled after the company discovered existing tenants occupying the terminal, leading to a fallout with Transnet. The dispute ended up in court after Transnet terminated the lease in 2018. eThekwini Sapphire Coast Tourism’s Romy Wenzel said if an airport were to be built on the South Coast, it would give a boost to the region. “We used to accommodate a lot of travellers either arriving or departing from the old airport before 2010, due to its proximity to Amanzimtoti and the surrounds.
Unfortunately, things took a turn when King Shaka Airport opened on the complete opposite side of town. We believe that since then, the southern region has not seen the same level of attention, which even the city manager confirmed himself,” said Wenzel.
The purpose of reviving Durban International was to handle the flow of air traffic coming into Durban/eThekwini region. King Shaka alone cannot accommodate the vast scale of air line flights. Seaworld possibly hoped to restore the facility to its former strength and buy the airport at full price from Transnet. Seaworld however faced fresh hurdles such as relocating the tenants still present in the facility such as shops and possibly residents who might live or even work there. The legal battle between Seaworld and Transnet ended on a sour note. The Terminal is now being used for container/cargo transport and storages. The municipality and even the provincial government soon became aware that Durban needed two airports. Now the discussion is back on the table.
Accommodation of tourists both domestic and foreign is a point of concern for the municipality. This is due to the fact that tourism is Durban’s major industry and brings in a significant portion of revenue. eThekwini Municipality and Mayor Cyril Xaba to that end must make Durban a centre of international interest and attention.
Following thirty years of hosting the globally-acclaimed Africa Travel Indaba, the city’s five-year contract expired this year; however the municipality has just confirmed it would bring the event back for another five years again, starting next year according to the recently renewed contract.
“Hosting Africa’s Travel Indaba in Durban underscores the City’s status as a leading tourism destination, renowned for its rich cultural heritage, pristine beaches, and world-class Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Events (MICE) facilities. The 2026 edition of Africa’s Travel Indaba is scheduled to take place from May 11 to 14 at the Durban ICC,” said the City’s spokesperson, Gugu Sisilana. Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille, conveyed her enthusiasm and congratulations regarding Durban’s selection. “We are proud to have Durban host Africa’s Travel Indaba in 2026. This event is more than just a showcase of tourism; it is an economic catalyst, a driver of job creation, and a strategic opportunity to position Africa as a premier travel destination on the global stage,” she said in a media statement.
Welcoming the news, eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba stated, “Hosting Africa’s Travel Indaba for the next five years is a tremendous opportunity for Durban to showcase its unique offerings. We look forward to welcoming industry leaders from around the world and creating meaningful business opportunities.”
Durban could evolve towards being a premier destination for tourism related events for Africa. To do so the municipality needs to constantly upgrade the city’s facilities and infrastructure. The Durban International Conference Centre (ICC) will always be the finest venue for these events. The Travel Indaba has always been the perfect event to showcase the city’s variety of attractions. Durban as a premier destination for South Africa’s industry and tourism and should remain on the radar of both the KwZulu-Natal Provincial government and the national government in Pretoria. Minister of Tourism Patricia De Lille is all to aware of the importance of costal Durban on the country’s east coast line. The city as a port and tourist magnet can be a centre for employment creation and strategic opportunity.
Mayor Xaba is right to point out that there is tremendous opportunity in accommodating various captains of industry and entrepreneurs to eThekwini Region. The municipality however still has a long way to go to clean up its own act and conduct in regards to managing Durban Metro. Only time will tell how those who hold the keys to power will adhere to improving the lives of residents through job creation.
Article written by:
Yacoob Cassim
Journalist at Radio Al Ansaar
