Durban mayor Mxolisi Kaunda has outlined a post Covid-19 economic recovery plan to help ailing businesses get back on their feet

Kaunda said Durban’s economy, which contributed about 10% to the country’s GDP, was expected to decline by 4 to 6% as a result of the pandemic.

He said hotels and restaurants were at risk of losing R4billion in revenue, and that the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre had postponed over 85 events from March until June, losing R64million in revenue, while Ushaka Marine World would lose R50m in the same period.

Kaunda said due to the postponement of major events such as the Tourism Indaba, Comrades Marathon and Vodacom Durban July, the city had lost billions in revenue.
His plan would supplement the R500bn economic recovery plan announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa last week. "The city will be driving a co-ordinated plan to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 on the local tourism and industrial economy," Kaunda said.

"Our plan entails linking affected industry players with the various funds announced by the national government, including the R200m Tourism Relief Fund and the Solidarity Fund.

"We will also ensure that the municipality’s accommodation bookings will now be directed to small businesses like B&Bs. Our Durban film office will now provide incentives for production houses to shoot their films in Durban,” he said.

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