11/12/2025
eThekwini Municipality has announced grand plans for a breathtaking R1 billion amusement park development at the former Durban Funworld site, with completion targeted for 2027.
eThekwini Mayor, Councillor Cyril Xaba made the announcement stating, “We are excited that this partnership allows the Municipality to upgrade a key public amenity, while securing significant private investment into the beachfront. This project will strengthen Durban’s position as a leading coastal destination and continue to attract visitors to enjoy our warm weather all year round.”
The location of the amusement park occupies a prime position along the beachfront promenade. Its transformation forms a central part of the City’s long-term strategy to revitalise the beachfront economy, attract private investment, and strengthen Durban’s position as Africa’s leading coastal tourism destination. It represents a catalytic investment in the Golden Mile beach, driving world-class entertainment, meaningful economic inclusion, and the continued renewal of Durban’s beachfront.
The park forms part of the City’s strategy to revitalise the beachfront economy, unlock private-sector investment and re-establish Durban as Africa’s premier coastal tourism hub. The development will introduce new world-class attractions, including the Lightning Roller Coaster, Disko 24, Vertical Swing, and a 1 500 square metre Virtual Reality Theme Park with more than 160 interactive games and global e-sports activations. The park will be developed in partnership with two leading Italian amusement engineering firms, well known for projects at Ferrari World, Universal Studios and Disneyland.
As a flagship project within eThekwini’s beachfront revitalisation strategy, the Durban Amusement Park will play a central role in repositioning the city as a vibrant day-and-night tourism destination. The development introduces a new layer of activation and public-realm enhancement along the Golden Mile, supported by:
- Neon-lit pedestrian walkways to improve safety, visibility and night-time ambience.
* Panoramic viewing decks offering uninterrupted coastal and city skyline views.
* Themed food courts and leisure hubs designed for high pedestrian flow and family enjoyment.
“Park-within-a-park” zones catering to all age groups - children, teens, adults and seniors.
An alcohol-free, family-oriented environment that prioritises safety, inclusivity and multi-generational use.
The project will be led by a Durban-based, 100% black-owned company, with more than 17 years’ experience in delivering large-scale urban development projects is expected to create approximately 900 construction jobs and over 500 permanent jobs in operations, hospitality, technical services and entertainment programming.
Construction will commence following the completion of the remaining statutory and commercial processes. The Municipality and the developer will provide updates on all aspects of the project.
This report is brought to you by Invest Durban
EThekwini Municipality Durban Tourism KZN Tourism & Film - Visit KZN Trade & Investment KwaZulu-Natal Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry
