The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) signed a joint commitment to strengthen cooperation in areas of mutual interest with the City of Medellin in 2013.
The core objectives of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) were to establish a mechanism to address the pressing challenges that affect the two cities.
On April 21 this year, the partnership was cemented at a round table discussion on urban planning hosted by city manager, Mr Khaya Ngema.
The meeting was attended by a delegation from the City of Medellin, which was led by the Ambassador of Colombia in South Africa, Ms Martha Cecilia Pinilla Perdomo.
Speaking at the meeting, the city manager emphasised the importance of nurturing the relationship between the two cities for the realisation of goals such as urban development and sustainable mobility.
“The recent study tour we undertook to Medellin in February is set to yield positive results in the development and the advancement of Ekurhuleni’s urban planning strategy,” explained Mr Ngema.
Important focus areas of the study tour included urban acupuncture projects, modalities of planning, executing and implementing urban infrastructure and exposure to social and economic effects of locating infrastructure in poorer areas.
Mr Jorge Perez, the director of urban planning in Medellin, delivered a presentation tackling issues such as social processes and collective leadership.
Both cities have committed to working together to promote programmes of mutual interest and development, share knowledge and skills in the area of service delivery and to help each other in the area of institutional development.
A plan to sign a new MoU between the two cities is in the pipeline, so as to resuscitate the currently existing agreement, as well as to further strengthen relations for the benefit of their citizenry.
Ambassador Perdomo used the opportunity to extend an invitation to Ekurhuleni to attend the First Cities for Life meeting taking place in Medellin later this year.
