eThekwini Municipality says it is ready to welcome popular restaurant Mojo’s to the South Beach in Durban. Mojos will be operating from the premises previously known as Surf Riders Café. This establishment was closed down late last month after the termination of its lease agreement.

This comes after Mojo’s Investment CC successfully bid for the lease and operation of the municipal property at 17 Erskine Terrace, South Beach for a period of nine years and 11 months. An open and competitive bidding process was undertaken by the City in November 2023, in which the business emerged victorious.

Also read: Big plans for Durban Beachfront

In the process, issues of principles of fairness, equity, transparency, and competitiveness reflected in the constitution, the Municipal Finance Management Act, and the Municipality’s Supply Chain Management Policy were looked at.

According to the eThekwini Municipality spokesperson Senzelwe Mzila, the announcement of the successful bidder was delayed after an unsuccessful bidder lodged an appeal in terms of section 49 of the eThekwini Municipality Supply Chain Management Policy. The appeal was subsequently dismissed by the Independent Appeal Authority, and upheld the outcome of the procurement process.

He said that judicial review proceedings which challenged the outcome of the decision were instituted by the unsuccessful bidder. These proceedings were withdrawn. The Notice of Withdrawal was filed with the KZN Division of the High Court in Pietermaritzburg on October 1. The municipality is now continuing with the implementation of the award and the introduction of a new operator.

“The arrival of Mojo’s at 17 Erskine Terrace represents an important milestone in the growth of home-grown Durban hospitality and lifestyle brand with 20 years of operating history.”

The business was established two decades ago in the township of Chesterville, Durban. What was initially a modest car-wash operation has since grown into Mojo’s Carwash & Shisanyama. The business has also since expanded beyond its original Chesterville base with the establishment of Mojo’s on Davenport in Glenwood.

Mzila said that this development formed part of the City’s growing pipeline of municipal property transactions translating into private investment, new businesses and renewed economic activity along Durban’s beachfront. This includes the 50-year lease with Southern Sun for the Elangeni and Maharani hotels, and the planned redevelopment of 137 Lower Marine Parade where construction is expected to take place in January 2027.

“Together, these investments form part of the municipality’s broader approach to optimising the economic and development potential of strategically located properties within its existing portfolio.

“The approach seeks to attract private capital, strengthen Durban’s tourism and hospitality offering, create employment and economic opportunities, broaden participation in key economic precincts, and increase the productivity of municipal assets while retaining strategic properties in municipal ownership.”

Mzila said that the City would continue working with Mojo’s to facilitate implementation and enable the new beachfront operation to commence as soon as practically possible.

Further details regarding the Mojo’s beachfront concept, investment value, employment opportunities and opening programme will be announced in due course.

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