Ramaphosa address at Durban Chamber of Commerce 170th anniversary gala dinner, 29 Oct 2026

The statements

South Africa

• Address by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the 170th Anniversary Gala Dinner of the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry 2026-10-29 · head of government · one of several topics in this statement

  Ramaphosa praises the Chamber for mobilising business and working with government after the July 2021 unrest and the 2022 floods, and for its partnership with government.

• Address by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the 170th Anniversary Gala Dinner of the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry 2026-10-29 · head of government · one of several topics in this statement

  Ramaphosa credits the Presidential eThekwini Working Group and partners, including the Chamber, with improved municipal metrics, while saying service delivery problems, especially water, continue to hold back recovery.

• Address by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the 170th Anniversary Gala Dinner of the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry 2026-10-29 · head of government · one of several topics in this statement

  Ramaphosa cites tourism growth in KwaZulu-Natal and Durban and the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey showing eThekwini with the lowest unemployment among the eight metros.

• Address by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the 170th Anniversary Gala Dinner of the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry 2026-10-29 · head of government · one of several topics in this statement

  Ramaphosa reports improved port efficiency and a World Bank and S&P Global ranking of Durban as the most improved port, while acknowledging serious disruptions at the Durban Gateway Terminal that the Minister of Transport is monitoring.

• Address by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the 170th Anniversary Gala Dinner of the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry 2026-10-29 · head of government · one of several topics in this statement

  Ramaphosa notes a slight fall in the Durban Business Confidence Index and business struggles with costs, and says government is taking steps to protect local manufacturing, including against imports of poor-quality goods, and will study the reasons for business closures.

• Address by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the 170th Anniversary Gala Dinner of the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry 2026-10-29 · head of government · one of several topics in this statement

  Ramaphosa says looting, vandalism and a killing in the Durban CBD have occurred, that some exploit concerns about illegal migration, and that he authorised SANDF deployment in the province until the end of November.

• Address by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the 170th Anniversary Gala Dinner of the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry 2026-10-29 · head of government · one of several topics in this statement

  Ramaphosa calls on residents of eThekwini to vote, saying the metro needs capable leadership to build on progress.