Area Profiles

Durban Area Profile Durban is one of South Africa’s largest and richest cities and home to the busiest port in Sub-Saharan Africa. The sub-tropical climate provides warm, sunny weather throughout the year, making it one of the most popular holiday destinations in the country. Durban has also been officially recognized as one of the New7Wonders Cities together with Vigan, Doha, La Paz, Havana, Beirut and Kuala Lumpur. Durban has a large and diversified economy with strong manufacturing, tourism, transportation, finance and government sectors. Berea The Berea area of Durban is set upon the hills overlooking the city and incorporates the suburbs of...

Durban North Area Profile The Durban North region is situated just north of Durban’s Umgeni River and is made up of a diverse mix of commercial, industrial and residential zones. The location between Durban and Umhlanga makes it a great location for businesses needing access to both areas and those not wanting to be directly in the hustle and bustle of the larger commercial nodes. Broadway and Umhlanga Rocks Drive The majority of commercial space in Durban North is located in the Broadway precinct (Swapo Road) and along Umhlanga Rocks Drive. Broadway is an active commercial node consisting of a variety of retail, service, medical and office spaces. A...

Durban South Area Profile The Durban South region is comprised of a number of suburbs positioned around and in close proximity to the Durban Harbour – the busiest port in Sub-Saharan Africa. Due to the port being in close proximity, there are numerous transport, logistics and related businesses based in the Durban South region. Additionally, the Engen and SAPREF refineries are located in this area and as a result there are a number of plastics and chemical operations nearby. The Durban South region is supported by an excellent road network and lends itself to distribution of goods around the province and the rest of South Africa. Bayhead and Maydon...

Pinetown Area Profile Pinetown is situated about 20km inland from Durban and about 60km from Pietermaritzburg. The greater Pinetown area, incorporating New Germany and Westmead, offers a variety of spaces for all business types. Pinetown is easily accessible from all directions due to the convergence of major routes such as the N3, M1, M7, M13 and M19. Central Pinetown offers a range of good-value office space. Although the traffic congestion in the area has been an inconvenience for last few years, the roadworks and infrastructure upgrades are now nearing completion. Pinetown’s Hill Street precinct is a bustling hive of commerce and activity. The location...

Riverhorse Valley Area Profile Riverhorse Valley is a business precinct located along the N2 freeway, north of the Umgeni River and about 12km from Umhlanga and about 15km from Durban. Development of the area began in 2002 and the majority of infrastructure was completed by 2008. The Riverhorse Valley area consists mainly of manufacturing and warehousing facilities, with commercial services and offices taking up a secondary role. The location along the N2 and proximity to the ports makes the area ideal for warehousing and distribution operations. Additionally, the suburbs of Newlands, Reservoir Hills and Kwamashu provide an ample supply of labour for the area. Some...

Umhlanga and Surrounds Area Profile At a Glance Umhlanga is a coastal town situated approximately 15km north of the city of Durban. Umhlanga derives its name from isiZulu and means "place of reeds", referring to the beds of reeds growing along the Ohlanga River north of Umhlanga Rocks. The town of Umhlanga has been expanding since the 1980s and is now the main commercial hub of the greater Durban area, with many national and multi-national corporates basing their operations in the recently developed Ridgeside and New Town Centre areas. Umhlanga Ridgeside Formerly sugarcane fields, Umhlanga Ridgeside is now the premier office...

Westville Area Profile Westville is located about 20km west of Durban and is easily accessible via the N3, M13 and M19. Umhlanga, Amanzimtoti, Pinetown, Durban and Hillcrest are all within 30 minutes of central Westville. This central position, coupled with a range of well-priced, good-value commercial spaces make it a desirable location for many businesses. Derby Downs is one of the two big office parks in Westville. It is located just off the M13 near Westwood Mall, making it just minutes from Durban. The park is very well maintained and is host to a wide range of businesses. A variety of office space is available, from smaller spaces of less than 100m² to...