eThekwini Municipality has approved a Rural Development Strategy in a bid to create investment, urban, recreational and service nodes in rural areas.

67% percent of the eThekwini region is rural in nature. The strategy aims to provide a framework to ensure delivery to rural areas, empowering communities and improving their lives.

The implementation of the strategy includes, among others, the need for a number of detailed plans to be undertaken in order to realise the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act requirements of developing wall to wall schemes within its boundary.

There are also new projects that are being initiated in these areas such as the UMbumbulu Town Centre Scheme which is already underway and the Nsimbini Scheme which is still in the planning phase.

The Rural Development Strategy Implementation Plan also identified the need for detailed engagements with Amakhosi and the Ingonyama Trust Board in order to find ways to work together with the municipality to address issues of service delivery, land management and economic opportunities in rural areas.