Ntuli: KZN GPU has contributed to economic growth, reduction in crime

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli used his State of the Province Address (Sopa) on Friday to mount a robust defence of the 19-month-old government of provincial unity (GPU), saying the coalition government has restored stability and set the province on a path to economic recovery. Delivering his address to the provincial legislature at Pietermaritzburg’s Woodburn Rugby Stadium, Ntuli pointed to a number of indicators showing that since its formation in 2024, the GPU has made progress on a number of fronts. The economy of KwaZulu-Natal under the Government of Provincial Unity is showing encouraging signs of steady recovery.

“In 2025, our provincial economy grew by 1.8% – a moderate, however, encouraging improvement from the subdued growth rates that characterised the post-COVID-19 period. “Importantly, this performance was slightly above the national average growth expectation, reflecting the resilience of our provincial economy. “The growth forecast for 2026 points to a further expansion to 2.1%.

This projected increase reflects continued economic stabilisation, underpinned by improvements in energy supply and gradual recovery in key infrastructure systems, particularly in rail and port operations. “These improvements are critical to restoring investor confidence and unlocking the full productive capacity of our province,” he said. While the rate of unemployment in the province remained high, Ntuli pointed to thousands of employment opportunities which were created under the GPU.

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Between the mid-2025 quarters, KwaZulu-Natal recorded a net gain of approximately 54 000 new jobs, a development that supported household income, boosted consumer spending, and reinforced broader economic growth. “While conceding that recovery remained fragile, Ntuli said the GPU has clear plans to further stabilise the economy.

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