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The loss of Surf Riders Cafe' on Durban’s South Beach hit us all hard, and we’re fortunate that we can still get our fix at Umhlanga Cabanas and Gateway Boulevard – but there’s more local hospitality on the horizon.
That iconic spot along Durban’s Golden Mile will be taken over by Mojo’s, a homegrown eatery, which will now have a seafront setting.
eThekwini Municipality announced that Mojo’s Investment CC has been awarded the lease to operate the municipal property at 17 Erskine Terrace, South Beach, for nine years and 11 months.
READ: Durban says goodbye to Surf Riders on South Beach
From Chesterville to the beachfront
Mojo’s has come a long way from its beginnings as a modest car-wash operation in Chesterville. Over the past 20 years, the business has grown into the well-known Mojo’s Carwash & Shisanyama, building a following as a food, entertainment, and social destination.
The brand expanded with Mojo’s on Davenport in Glenwood, broadening its restaurant and entertainment offering. Its move to South Beach marks the next chapter in their proudly Durban story.
According to the municipality, the new operation will add to the variety of food, hospitality, entertainment and leisure experiences along the Golden Mile, while giving the established local business access to a major tourism precinct.
The lease follows a competitive bidding process launched in November 2023.
An appeal by an unsuccessful bidder was dismissed, and subsequent court review proceedings were withdrawn. The municipality says it is now proceeding with implementation and will work with Mojo’s to open the beachfront operation as soon as practically possible.
Details about the new concept, investment value, employment opportunities, and opening date have yet to be announced.
READ: Lights, camera, action! Durban’s long-awaited Film Studio is finally on track
Saying goodbye to Surf Riders
The news comes just weeks after Surf Riders shut its doors, which left a familiar gap on South Beach.
For more than a decade, the café at 17 Erskine Terrace was a favourite stop for surfers, families, dog walkers, tourists, and locals looking for breakfast, burgers, seafood, or a relaxed spot beside the ocean.
The café’s departure followed the end of its municipal lease arrangement. While the brand continues to operate at Umhlanga Cabanas and Gateway Boulevard, its South Beach chapter has ended.
The Golden Mile is getting a glow-up
Mojo’s is the latest in a broader effort to attract private investment and bring renewed activity to Durban’s beachfront.
One of the biggest projects is the redevelopment of 137 Lower Marine Parade, where more than R70 million in funding has been secured. Once tenant fit-outs are included, total private-sector investment is expected to approach R100 million.
Construction is expected to begin in January 2027, with tenants including Steers, Fishaways, Debonairs Pizza, Wimpy, Milky Lane, Perere by Gushima and Nonna’s Riviera, which is making its Durban debut.
READ: Durban’s Golden Mile to get R70m beachfront redevelopment
Further along the beachfront, the Elangeni and Maharani hotel precinct is part of a separate long-term partnership with Southern Sun, which includes a substantial capital investment commitment for upgrades.
READ: A R1-billion amusement park is coming to Durban’s Golden Mile
And there’s more on the horizon. Plans for a R1-billion amusement park on the former Funworld site include major rides, immersive entertainment zones, a virtual reality park, food courts, and ocean-facing viewing areas. One thing is clear: Durban’s Golden Mile is set to shine!
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