Durban, Chicago forge closer links
Sibusiso Mboto
21 October 2004
A delegation of councillors from the United States is visiting eThekwini municipality as part of an initiative to strengthen relations between the cities of Chicago and Durban.
The 12-person delegation is led by Kathleen Borland, chairperson of the International Activities Network that promotes cooperation and sisterhood between cities of the world, and will be in Durban for two weeks.
Their visit forms part of a fact-finding mission to ascertain the type of assistance the two cities can give one another.
Relations between the two cities began in 2001 with eThekwini Executive Mayor Obed Mlaba's visit to the US, which resulted in the two cities initiating exchange programmes as part of an initiative called Sister Cities International.
Social Welfare and Population Development MEC Nyanga Ngubane welcomed the delegation on Monday, saying the Durban-Chicago exchange programme promoted the exchange of ideas and best practice models "that
will assist us in generating innovative ideas."
Durban and Chicago have already developed programmes on trade and investment, sports and culture, education and social welfare.
Social workers from the province have already been to Chicago to learn new ways of dealing with welfare issues.
"What we have found impressive with the province is its ability to work with meagre resources and still be able to cover scores of people", said Borland, who is on her second visit to KwaZulu-Natal.
Source: BuaNews
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