Sector Action Team Leader for Property Development, Gavin Minnaar, attended the 3rd Annual Property Conference held at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre on 21 May 2026.
Here are the key themes and talking points emerging from Day 1:
Shift From “Land Access” to “Bankable Assets”
The central theme of the conference was:
“From Access to Assets: Scaling Bankable Development on Public Land”
The focus has moved away from simply releasing municipal land toward ensuring that land becomes financially viable, investment-ready developments. The emphasis was on:
- Structuring municipal land deals properly
- Making developments financeable by banks and investors
- Creating repeatable development models at scale
eThekwini Positioning Itself as an Investment Facilitator
A major strategic message was that eThekwini Municipality wants to act less like a traditional regulator and more like a:
- market-maker
- investment facilitator
- economic growth partner
The municipality highlighted:
- public-private partnerships
- governance certainty
- streamlined land release processes
- investor confidence measures
Strong Push for Private Sector Collaboration
There was significant emphasis on collaboration between:
- developers
- banks
- institutional investors
- legal and built-environment professionals
- government departments
Key discussions included:
- risk allocation
- underwriting requirements
- infrastructure delivery
- financial structuring for developments
“Deal Rooms” Seen as a Major Innovation
One of the standout features of the conference was the introduction of closed-door “deal rooms.”
These were designed to:
- connect developers directly with funders
- unlock live development opportunities
- move discussions beyond theory into execution
- accelerate projects already in pipeline stages
Bankability and Execution Were Key Buzzwords
Unlike previous conferences which focused more on policy and barriers to entry, Day 1 repeatedly stressed:
- implementation
- measurable outcomes
- scalable delivery
- projects reaching “financial close”
- construction-ready opportunities
There was a clear tone that:
“The time for pilot projects is over — now it’s about execution.”
Durban’s Recovery Narrative Was Highlighted
The broader economic recovery of Durban/eThekwini formed an important backdrop:
- improving business confidence
- infrastructure upgrades
- tourism recovery
- renewed investor interest
- reforms in partnerships and development planning
This aligns with recent comments by Cyril Ramaphosa around eThekwini moving from “stabilisation to catalytic growth.”
Focus on Removing Development Friction
Several discussions highlighted obstacles still slowing development, including:
- planning delays
- approval bottlenecks
- infrastructure constraints
- cost structures deterring investment
- derelict/problem buildings
There appeared to be strong support for:
- faster approvals
- more predictable governance
- redevelopment incentives
- urban regeneration initiatives
Public Land as an Economic Catalyst
The conference strongly promoted the idea that municipal land should:
- generate economic growth
- stimulate jobs
- attract capital
- create long-term revenue streams
Rather than holding dormant assets, municipalities were encouraged to unlock land strategically through partnerships and development packaging.
The tone appears to have been:
- pragmatic rather than political
- execution-focused
- investor-oriented
- optimistic about Durban’s recovery trajectory
- strongly pro public-private collaboration
The conference positioned Durban as attempting to become a leading metro for:
- investment-ready municipal land strategies.
- financeable urban development
- infrastructure-led growth
