The 130th edition of the Hollywoodbets Durban July is expected to generate about R245 million for KwaZulu-Natal and create employment and business opportunities, says Economic Development MEC Reverend Musa Zondi.
The event is being held on Saturday at Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse in Durban under the theme Country Allure, attracting thousands of visitors, celebrities, media personalities and fashion enthusiasts.
Zondi said the Durban July is a major boost for the provincial economy.
“It’s a big boost, as I said yesterday, because this one event, which we are witnessing today, goes very far, not only to the hotels, to the city of eThekwini, but it boosts the entire economy of KwaZulu-Natal.”
“In terms of figures, we are expecting an injection of more than 245 million rand just on this one event, and that’s not a small amount of money for one weekend in KwaZulu-Natal, and it will go very far,” he told the public broadcaster.
He said the economic benefits extend across all levels of society.
“There are other elements of the injection that will reach both people who are in the higher echelons of society and in business activity in the middle rung as well as on the lower rung.”
Zondi said communities in surrounding townships are also benefiting from tourism and related activities linked to the event.
“There is a vibe. There are activities that are planned that are ongoing. There are tourists who came here for July today, but they want to go in the evening to see the real activities, the life of our townships, adjoining townships here and tomorrow.”
He said visitors are also expected to travel to other parts of the province, including game reserves and the Drakensberg.
“And others are going to be spreading out throughout the province to our game reserves, up to the majestic Drakensberg Mountains. So everybody in KwaZulu-Natal is touched by what is happening here.”
Zondi said the event continues to support job creation.
“So, back to economics. It’s jobs, jobs, jobs. It’s sustaining our jobs, it’s sustaining the industry of what is going on in KwaZulu-Natal.”
He added that the Durban July also plays a role in strengthening social cohesion.
“There is nothing that surpasses what we see here. People are just themselves. They mingle together. This kind of event brings people together to be themselves.”
The event has drawn thousands of racegoers, including celebrities, influencers and tourists, with fashion once again a major feature under the Country Allure theme.
Local businesses, fashion designers, tourism operators and the hospitality sector are expected to benefit from increased spending over the weekend.
Earlier this week, IOL News reported that the 2026 Durban July could inject close to R1 billion into the eThekwini economy, reflecting the recovery of South Africa’s horse racing industry after years of financial strain.
The race, which carries a R10 million purse, features 18 of the country’s top thoroughbreds and is expected to attract more than 45,000 spectators.
Last year’s event generated an estimated R840 million in economic impact, up from R690 million in 2024.
Hollywoodbets brand and communications manager Devin Heffer said the growth of the Durban July reflects broader stabilisation in the horse racing industry following major investment and restructuring.
He said Hollywoodbets stepped in in 2019 to support Gold Circle during a period of financial difficulty, following wider industry challenges linked to the Steinhoff scandal and the Covid-19 pandemic.
The company later expanded its involvement, taking over naming rights for Greyville and Scottsville racecourses and becoming title sponsor of the Durban July in 2022.
Hollywoodbets also provided financial support to Cape Racing in 2022, later acquiring the operation in 2023. Gold Circle was fully acquired in May 2025, and Race Coast was formed to consolidate racing operations in KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape.
Heffer said about R1 billion in investment has been directed into infrastructure, including upgrades at Greyville, Scottsville, Kenilworth and Durbanville racecourses, as well as training facilities in Milnerton and Summerveld.
He said improvements at Greyville include upgrades to buildings, the Polytrack and a new lighting system, with broader economic benefits for suppliers, construction firms and workers.
Hollywoodbets has also expanded into horse ownership and breeding, growing its stable to 275 horses and importing additional thoroughbreds from Australia, New Zealand and Argentina.
According to the company, incentive schemes have paid out millions to trainers, jockeys and grooms since 2019, supporting employment across the industry.
Hollywoodbets said its acquisitions have helped preserve about 15,000 jobs, while the wider horse racing sector supports more than 60,000 jobs and about 300,000 dependents nationwide.
simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za
IOL
