Private investment aims to boost jobs and development north of Durban
Durban will see a significant uplift in commercial activity as the first phase of the R2.1 billion Cornubia Business Park nears completion, with a major retail anchor and further phases planned to expand education and commercial capacity across the precinct.
Fundamentum, the developer behind the project, told media that the initial phase is expected to be completed by December 2026. The first stage includes a R200 million Leroy Merlin retail development as an anchor tenant, and later phases are expected to feature the Emeris campus — projected to accommodate about 8,000 students — alongside additional commercial properties.
eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba visited the Cornubia site on Monday and received a briefing on work already under way. According to reporting, the visit formed part of the municipality’s oversight of major private-sector projects happening in the metro.
“These investments are significant not only because of their financial value, but because of what they represent for our economy,” Xaba said, as reported by IOL.
Jobs, investment and infrastructure commitments
Construction of the Cornubia Business Park has already created employment and has prompted municipal and private commitments to infrastructure. Reported figures include:
- About 300 construction jobs created during the current phase;
- Approximately 100 permanent jobs expected once the first phase is operational;
- Close to 2,000 jobs projected across the wider development as later phases are built;
- R500 million reportedly committed to precinct infrastructure and the Leroy Merlin development.
The developer, Fundamentum, already holds more than R8 billion in assets within eThekwini, including retail centres in Shongweni, KwaMashu and Newlands West. The Cornubia development is one of a number of projects the company is advancing in the metro.
| Item | Reported value / number |
|---|---|
| Total value of first phase | R2.1 billion |
| Leroy Merlin development | R200 million |
| Committed precinct infrastructure | R500 million |
| Construction jobs to date | ~300 |
| Expected permanent jobs after phase one | ~100 |
| Projected jobs across full development | Close to 2,000 |
Local impact and context
For residents in north Durban and surrounding communities, the development represents both opportunity and change. Reported projections point to short-term construction employment and longer-term retail and administrative positions once the business park and associated commercial facilities open.
Mayor Xaba framed the investment as a sign of private-sector confidence in eThekwini and its growth corridors, saying that the project will drive construction activity and create new business prospects in the city. Fundamentum’s portfolio in Durban — which includes malls and mixed-use assets — underscores the developer’s footprint in the metro.
Urban planners and local economic development officials will be watching delivery of the Emeris campus closely. If realised as reported, a campus able to serve about 8,000 students would add an educational dimension to Cornubia’s predominantly commercial outlook and could stimulate demand for housing, transport and services nearby.
Community groups and ward representatives are likely to monitor how the municipality manages infrastructure upgrades, traffic flows and service delivery as the precinct expands. The reported R500 million commitment to infrastructure suggests both public and private investment will be needed to support the development’s growth.
Work on the second phase is expected to start next year, according to reporting. City officials and the developer will be asked to ensure that promised employment outcomes and infrastructure upgrades are tracked and communicated to residents as the project proceeds.
The details in this report are drawn from media coverage of the site visit and project briefing.
