eThekwini prepares to host BRICS Urbanisation Summit

THE eThekwini Municipality Council has approved a significant partnership with the National Department of Cooperative Governance to host the important 2023 BRICS Urbanisation Summit.

This decision, taken on July 13, at the sitting of the Full Council under the chairmanship of Acting Speaker Councillor Thembo Ntuli, sets the stage for an impactful and knowledge-sharing event. The summit is themed ‘Urban Resilience for Sustainable Urban Development’ and will delve into the critical realm of urban planning and its global impact on cities.

According to a statement released by the municipality, the chosen theme is particularly relevant in light of the ongoing global urbanisation phenomenon, with an increasing number of individuals flocking to cities worldwide. “One of the noteworthy aspects of the 2023 urbanisation forum is its alignment with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a universal call to action adopted in 2015. Specifically, the forum contributes to Goal 11, which focuses on Sustainable Cities and Communities, as well as Goal 17, centred on Partnerships for the Goals. By addressing key urban-development issues, the forum aims to explore how cities worldwide are strengthening their resilience,” said the City.

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As part of the summit, attendees will have the opportunity to embark on a site visit hosted by the City, showcasing its urban resilience initiatives and sharing best practices. “This hands-on experience will allow participants to witness first-hand the progress being made in building resilience within the city. Co-hosting the BRICS Urbanisation Summit provides a platform for the City to highlight its own efforts in building resilience amid compounding challenges. It also facilitates strategic partnerships to support the implementation of the municipality’s resilience-building programmes. Furthermore, the summit offers an ideal opportunity to exchange promising practices in disaster preparedness and responsiveness, aligning with the overarching theme of human security within the 2023 sustainable development agenda,” said the municipality in the statement.

The statement went on to state that, in addition to the partnership for the BRICS Urbanisation Summit, Council has also approved grant funding for two prominent entities in the city. “The Durban International Convention Centre (ICC) and uShaka Marine World, a pioneering establishment committed to building an inclusive economy, will receive financial support from the approved 2023/2024 budget. The allocated funds amount to R15m for various capital projects at the Durban ICC, including the replacement of a leaking roof and the procurement of essential equipment. For uShaka, an amount of R129m has been approved. These funds will be disbursed to support the work undertaken by the South African Association for Marine Biological Research (SAAMBR), uShaka Operations, capital projects, and repairs and maintenance,” said the City.

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