In mid-October 2026, eThekwini Municipality announced that Mojo’s Investment CC had been awarded the lease for the municipal property at 17 Erskine Terrace, South Beach. The site was previously occupied by Surf Riders Café, whose lease ended and which closed in late September 2026. Mojo’s secured a lease of nine years and 11 months after a competitive bidding process that started in November 2023.
Background on the brand
Mojo’s has operated for about 20 years. It started as a modest car-wash business in Chesterville, a Durban township, and grew into Mojo’s Carwash & Shisanyama, a popular food, entertainment, and social destination. It later expanded with Mojo’s on Davenport in Glenwood. The South Beach move is widely described as a significant next step for this home-grown Durban brand, bringing its offering to one of the city’s main tourism and leisure precincts.
Path to the lease
The award faced delays. An unsuccessful bidder appealed under the municipality’s Supply Chain Management Policy; an independent appeal authority dismissed the appeal and upheld the original decision. The same party then launched judicial review proceedings in the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Pietermaritzburg. Those proceedings were withdrawn (notice filed on 1 October 2026), clearing the way for implementation. The municipality emphasised that the process followed principles of fairness, equity, transparency, and competitiveness.
Broader context on the Golden Mile
Municipal spokesperson Senzelwe Mzila framed the deal as part of a wider pipeline of private investment aimed at revitalising underutilised municipal properties along Durban’s beachfront. Related developments include:
- A 50-year lease with Southern Sun for the Elangeni and Maharani hotels (significant capital commitment, previously linked to around R1 billion including related work).
- Planned redevelopment at 137 Lower Marine Parade, with construction expected to start in January 2027 and an aim to open during the 2027/28 festive season.
The municipality said the Mojo’s arrival will add diversity to food, hospitality, entertainment, and leisure options on the Golden Mile and introduce the brand to a broader audience of residents and visitors. It is working with Mojo’s to get the new operation running “as soon as practically possible.”
What is still unknown
Specific details about the South Beach concept (menu, layout, entertainment offering), investment value, employment opportunities, and exact opening date have not yet been released. Further announcements are expected in due course. Surf Riders Café continues at other locations (Umhlanga Cabanas and Gateway Boulevard).
In short, a Durban-born business with deep township roots is moving into a prime beachfront spot, marking both a brand milestone and another step in the city’s efforts to activate and regenerate the Golden Mile through private-sector partnerships on municipal property.
