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Friday16 July 2010

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UMGENIBIRD PARKREOPENS

SIYABONGA MAPHUMULO

ALEADING city inBrazil plans to takea leaf out ofDurban’s book in itspreparations for the

2014 Fifa World Cup.At a recent signing of a

Memorandum of Under-standing (MoU) between thetwo cities, the Mayor ofCuritiba, Luciano Ducci saidhe had sent a delegation tolook at the Moses Mabhidastadium.

The MoU marked theformation of a Sister Cityrelationship between Durbanand Curitiba where both citiesagreed to work together onissues of development.

“We are very impressed withDurban’s preparations for the2010 Fifa World Cup,” saidDucci at the signing.

Curitiba is one of the 12Brazillian cities in line to hostthe next World Cup.

Mayor Obed Mlaba and therest of the eThekwini Muni-cipality’s Executive Com-mittee present at the signingaccepted the complimentfrom Ducci with markedmodesty.

“The two cities have a lot tolearn from each other . . .Curitiba has a lot to teach uson issues of biodiversity,

especially given the chall-enges of climate change weare facing,” Mlaba said.

He said that in spite of a highcar ownership rate, Curitibaregistered the lowest airpollution rate in Brazil.

He said this was because itslocal government encouragedpeople to leave their cars athome and use publictransport.

Curitiba is cited as a modelsustainable city by the UnitedNations.

Ducci said his countrywould also be hosting the2016 Olympic games.

“The City of Durban can alsolearn a few things from uswhen we host the Olympics,”he said.

Durban has already signall-ed its intentions to bid for the2020 Olympic Games.

If Durban throws its hat intothe ring, it will be competingagainst Johannesburg andCape Town, who are alsopossible bidders.

The South African SportsConfederation this weekannounced that South Africawould be bidding to host thegames.

Durban will next year hostthe International OlympicsCommittee when the bodysits for its 123rd session.

maphumulosiya@durban.gov.za

SAMKELO MTSHALI

A PARTNERSHIP between the Municipality, civicorganisations andgovernment departmentsprotected street children fromthe risk of exposure to abuse,drugs and human traffickingduring the World Cup.

Thoko Xulu, theMunicipality’s Manager ofSocial Development, said thiswas part of the eThekwini’ssocial intervention plan toprovide a better, effectiveservice to vulnerable groups.

“The aim was to ensure thechildren were protected. TheSocial DevelopmentDepartment’s VulnerableGroups Management hadteams on the streets day andnight and specially trainedvolunteers,” said Xulu.

SheltersNon-governmental

organisations, shelters andchildren’s homes were used toextend the work of the teams.

The Sakhisizwe ReceptionCentre and Street ChildrenOperation Siza were tasked toprovide outreach work.

Support was offered tovulnerable groups with visitsto Sakhithemba Children’sHome and places frequentedby street children and othervulnerable groups.

A directory of servicesdeveloped by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of SocialDevelopment was used as aguide when referring childrenfor help.

mtshalis@durban.gov.za

Brazil nutsabout Durbs

World Cup host cities agree to share know-how

GOOD SIGN: Mayors Obed Mlaba of Durban andLuciano Ducci, of Curitiba, Brazil, give the thumbs

up to future co-operation Picture: JESSIE SINGH

S’CELO KHUZWAYO, SIHLE MANDA andSHARON BACON

DURBAN civic leaders haveheaped praise on the city’scitizens for their enormouscontribution to a successfulhosting of the World Cup.

“The spirit of unity broughtabout by this World Cup isamazing . . . All this would nothave been possible withoutthe active participation of ourpeople,” said Mayor ObedMlaba.

“Our visitors were made to

feel comfortable by the hospi-tality of Durbanites, whoextended their hands offriendship to our guests. Thiswill put us in a better positionto attract future events intoour city.”

AssuranceThe Municipality has given

the assurance that much ofthe infrastructure put in placefor the Cup would continue tobe used for the benefit oflocals and visitors.

The Moses Mabida Stadium

will be used for other bignational and internationalsporting events. Its popularSkyCar, SkyWalk and BigSwing, closed for the WorldCup, will be back in action forthe public from today, 16 July.

The stadium shops and rest-aurants will reopen too.Around 150 000 people haveenjoyed the attractions onoffer since the stadiumopened on 30 November and150 corporate functions andconferences were successfullyhosted in venues around thestadium.

Stadium tours will not openfor several weeks while Fifamoves out and stadium staffand management move backin.

The people mover buses willgo back to its normal scheduleand the fan parks are beingdisassembled and their siteswill return to their pre-WorldCup states.

The Metro Police’s topmanagement have expressedhappiness at the manner inwhich the World Cup safetyplan was executed.

Deputy Head of Operations,

Titus Malaza said one of thechallenges they had faced wasto ensure the safety of resi-dents and visitors, while alsocomplying with strict Fifarules.

SmoothMetro Police spokesperson,

Senior Superintendent, JoyceKhuzwayo said memberscooperated well with theirSouth African Police counter-parts to keep crime levels to aminimum and ensure trafficflowed smoothly, despite the

necessary road closures.Disaster Management’s Billy

Keeves said, “Working with 31representatives from variousdepartments and units on thematch days was a sign ofcommitment. It reflects posi-tively on the city.”

He said all agencies operat-ing from the Disaster Opera-tion Centre had hailed itsoperation as “fantastic”.

khuzwayos@durban.gov.za mandas @durban.gov.za

bacons@durban.gov.za See Mayor’s column, Page 7

Mayor hails warm-hearted Durbanites

Safetyfirst forstreetchildren