Megaprojects in the Context of Neoliberalism: Socio-Economic and Spatial Impacts of the Proposed Dig-Out Port in Durban, South Africa

Megaprojects transform urban landscapes in many cities around the world and take the form of large development projects such as railways, bridges, ports, dams, shopping malls and iconic skyscrapers. For cities, megaprojects act as marketing and branding strategies, promoting a neoliberal quest to be internationally competitive as spaces of investment and consumption. Durban, like other cities, has also developed various megaprojects following the shift towards neoliberal urban development strategies. However, the benefits of megaprojects are increasingly being questioned; a large body of literature suggests that their benefits tend to be overestimated, while negative impacts and costs are underestimated. This paper contributes to this literature by examining the case of the proposed dig-out port in Durban. We argue that the planning process reveals that the project is likely to follow the “megaproject syndrome”, resulting in negative socio-spatial impacts. We contend that the proposed dig-out port and other megaprojects in Durban reflect the neoliberal and entrepreneurial urban development strategies.