"How Convenient": Durban’s R980 Million Beachfront Amusement Park Clears Funding Hurdle, SA Reacts
- Durban's planned R980 million amusement park secured approval for project development funding, marking a significant milestone for the long-awaited attraction
- The development, set for the former Funworld site on the Golden Mile, is expected to create approximately 1 400 jobs across construction and operations
- South Africans online were divided over the announcement, with some excited and others questioning priorities
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Durban's long-planned beachfront amusement park has cleared a critical funding hurdle. A development finance institution completed its assessment and approved funding for the development phase of the R980 million project, which is set to rise on the former Funworld site along the Golden Mile.
The eThekwini Municipality confirmed that the project had already completed its design stage, with technical and statutory work now under way. That statutory process is expected to run through to the end of March 2027, after which construction is due to begin, though no confirmed opening date has been announced.
What the new park will offer
The planned attraction is designed to serve as a major family entertainment destination that can operate year-round, rain or shine. According to the municipality, the park will include multiple world-class amusement rides, an extended reality and digital entertainment zone, a curated retail offering, and an upgraded amphitheatre built around events. The mix of indoor and outdoor experiences is intended to keep the park running into the evenings as well.
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The development will occupy its site under a long-term lease agreement with the municipality, bringing a permanent ride-led attraction back to a beachfront that has been without one since Funworld closed its doors.
Jobs and tourism on the line
Beyond the rides, the municipality sees the project as an economic driver. Around 1 400 jobs are expected to be created between the construction and operational phases, with local small businesses also set to form part of the supply chain.
The Golden Mile already draws more than 17 million promenade visits each year, according to the municipality. The hope is that a major new attraction will encourage visitors to stay longer, return more often, and spend at nearby hotels, restaurants and tourism businesses.
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Durban residents react
Not everyone in the comments on The South African's page was celebrating the news:
Antoinette van Niekerk said:
"Seeing is believing. The money will be gone before they even start."
Naveen Ramsuraj commented:
"I think it's an over-exaggerated figure. It looks like a 1970s era. Give Elon Musk the contract 🤣"
Bheki Majola added:
"Just thinking of the crowd on New Year's Day."
Paul Alcock said:
"Just please fill up the beach pool for a start 😀"
Sudesh Sivsaran wrote:
"Use that R980M to build houses. Better than living in a shack."
Gafoor Tahir noted:
"Taking our tax money to build an amusement centre, thereafter charge us to use it, how convenient. Rather build houses for the poor people in KZN."
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Source: Briefly News
