lol, talk about crime, my cousin is part of the KZN tourism thingy for the Indaba, so shes in the ICC everyday. Someone stole her cell phone at the conference!

^^ you can lose a phone anywhere these days. my sis has lost 6 this year in cavendish alone.

Nope this one was deff stolen coz her friend was out on a smoke break & saw this guy holding a phone just like hers so when she went out to investigate all she found was her SIM on the floor

when i said lost i meant stolen. they are so easy to steal and its a massive problem everywhere in the world cos sim cards are just so damn cheap to buy. the only way to stop it is to make sure you blacklist your phone once stolen

^^ Na...Just do like me. I keep the same crappy cellphone for years. I drop it, scratch it and scuff it. By the time I'm done with it, it looks like a Pakistani bowler has tampered with it. And then no one wants to take it. :)
In bars, I leave it sitting out while I use the toilet. I come back, and it's still there. :cheers:

News hot off the press is that ABSA might not be domolished after post-2010 but is earmarked to be a major tennis stadum! A bit too big for one court if you ask me but I'm sure they will reconfigure the inside and sub-divide into at least 3-4 courts.

Also, from the sounds of it, Durbs is still in the hunt for the media centre.

-----------------

Absa Stadium could be a tennis venue
Barbara Cole
May 15 2007 at 12:42PM

The city has no doubt that rugby, currently headquartered at Absa rugby stadium, would eventually move across the road to the new Moses Mabhida Stadium, now under construction.

But this might not happen until after the 2010 Soccer World Cup "if that is better for them," Julie-May Ellingson, head of the city's Strategic Projects Department, said after a media briefing about eThekwini Municipality's 2010 and Beyond programme, held during yesterday's Indaba session.

And she hinted that as the plan was to move tennis across from Westridge, Absa Stadium would make an ideal centre court.

The area - King's Park - is being transformed into a sport precinct, and Durban planned to bid for the 2020 Olympics in 2016, she said. One requirement was having a tennis centre court.

She also disclosed that three local areas - KwaMashu, Umlazi and Clermont - were being earmarked for training venues for soccer teams participating in the 2010 World Cup.

If this happened - and it has to be approved by the council - the surrounding areas would be upgraded, which would leave a lasting legacy from the event.

People should not fool themselves, though, that base camps - where the teams would be located for up to six weeks - would be situated locally.

These camps called for an extremely high standard, and she had seen the England team's "completely amazing" seven-star accommodation in Germany, and doubted that they would want to downgrade.

Durban would continue "to fight to the end" to host the International Broadcasting Centre (for the world's media covering the 2010 event) in the city, which would - if we won the bid - go up on the old Drive-In site.


This article was originally published on page 5 of Daily News on May 15, 2007

http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=6&click_id=30&art_id=vn20070515094318191C732864

I also found it interesting that Durba plans to host the media centre in the Durban drive-in site. I thought the plan was to host at the ICC?

A 52,000 seater tennis stadium!! No way that would happen and ABSA stadium is most definitely not suited for tennis. Sounds like the reporter got mixed up with the stadiums. And the ICC is bidding for the media centre.

More big events heading Durban's way. I didn't even know Durbs had a dedicated mountain bike precinct!

-------------------

Amashova to go off road

Posted on 15 May 2007 - 16:29

Not content to be one of the country’s leading road races, the Pick ’n Pay Amashovashova cycle race will celebrate its 21st anniversary this October by introducing two new mountain bike events to the City of Durban.
On Saturday, 20 October, mountain bikers will be able to meet their very own challenge in either the 45km or 20km events that will be known as the Asishove and will take place entirely within the Giba Gorge Mountain Bike Park outside Pinetown. These two events form part of a festival of cycling weekend, which starts on Friday 19 October and runs through to Sunday 21 October, culminating with the flagship event, the 106km road race between Pietermaritzburg and Durban.

The 45km mountain bike race will double as the final event in the Fritz Pienaar Cycles National Half-marathon Series so a large out-of-town entry can be expected, while the 20km event will be geared for novices looking for a fun challenge.

“Mountain Biking is really growing in stature and we are delighted to be in a position to offer this discipline to the cycling fraternity,” says race director, Annie Batchelder. “It is a great honour for this event to be included in the National Series and we look forward to finishing off the Series with an event everyone will want to come back to.”

The National Half Marathon Series is the most popular mountain bike series in the country, attracting around 10000 participants each year. Points are scored at each of the 10 events in the Series to determine the top riders in each category. The Series is aimed at youngsters, women, novices, older folks and anyone looking for a challenge that’s not impossible to complete. The Asishove will replace Alpine Heath as the final event in the Series.

“Durban has a very passionate mountain bike community so it makes perfect sense for us to have one of our Series events there,” says Series Director, Theo Grobler, “A large percentage of the participants in the half marathon series are from the greater Durban area, often travelling long distances to get to the other Series events. So it’s great for us to be able place an event on their doorstep.”

Giba Gorge has recently become the mountain biking hotspot for Durban. And it’s only officially being launched at the end of June! Within the 350 hectares, there are more than 35km of trails in lush sub-tropical forest. Most of the trails are hand-built singletrack, which complies with International Mountain Bike Association trail standards and offers various difficultly levels to cater for all mountain bikers from novice to advanced.

Entries for the Asishove are now open. Visit www.amashova.co.za to book your place on the start line.

For more information on the Asishove, visit www.amashova.co.za •

http://www.supercycling.co.za/default.asp?id=215326&des=article&scat=supercycling/cyclelabnews

Another major event coming up end of May.

-----------------

Durban Ultra Tri receives road closure

Posted on 15 May 2007 - 16:09

Following consultation with the local authorities, the prestigious Durban Ultra Triathlon, sponsored by Sibaya Casino, has been granted road closure. Inspector Dieter Meyer of Durban Metro Police, Northern Region confirmed that there would be road closure on the M4 highway for the event, between the Umdloti on/off ramps and where the M4 intersects with the Watson Highway. This will ensure that the athletes are safe on the route thus making the event an even more enjoyable experience for them.

Dieter Meyer said that the recent accidents and deaths along this stretch of road was unacceptable and the Metro Police will take on the responsibility to address the athletes needs and give them a safe race. Race Director, Damian Bradley said that ironically the Durban Ultra Triathlon is being held in Memory of Triathlete Julie Frasier, who was killed while cycling along this stretch of road. He said that they had been pushing for road closure along the bike route and that this approval will secure the success of this event

Over 500 athletes are expected to take on the grueling Durban Ultra course on the 27th May 2007. The Athletes will have to complete a 1.6km swim at Umdloti beach, then mount their bikes for a 60km (3 lap) cycle route and then hit the off road trails around Sibaya Casino for the 15km run. Athletes from around South Africa have been preparing for the exciting reintroduction of the late 80’s and early 90’s event. Although only half the original distance, the 2007 event looks set to bring Triathlon to the forefront of endurance sport in KZN.

http://www.supercycling.co.za/default.asp?id=215323&des=article&scat=supercycling/cyclelabnews

And Durbs has been confirmed as the host of the SA-Chad match.

We had a discussion on which city is the country's sport's capital a few months ago. I seriously doubt any other SA city can seriously stake a claim to this title.

------------------

Bafana to face Chad in Durban

Posted on 15 May 2007 - 17:15

Bafana Bafana will play their African Nations Cup qualifier against ailing, under-strength Chad at Durban's King's Park Stadium on Saturday, June 2 - but those expecting the South African squad for the game to be announced in Durban on Tuesday were disappointed.
Instead, it was only the venue and ticketing details aimed at drumming up support for the lukewarm attraction that were revealed at the Durban media briefing.

"The squad to play against Chad will probably only be confirmed after the Cosafa Cup matches on in Swaziland on May 26 and 27," said Bafana PRO media manager Gugu Marawa.

"There was never any intention to announce the South African squad for the Chad game at this juncture."

Instead, Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira will name what will effectively be a second string squad for the Cosafa Cup games in Johannesburg on Thursday.

The Bafana squad to kick off their programme in Swaziland against Malawi will be shorn of representation from Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape Town, who will be playing the Absa Cup final on the same weekend.

And it is unlikely that Parreira will have many of his first-choice, overseas-based contingent in this diluted squad either.

However, Marawa confirmed the strongest available contingent will be chosen for the Chad game in Durban.


http://www.supersoccer.co.za/default.asp?id=215333&des=article&scat=supersoccer/bafanabafana

Durban will be hosting a few more international matches for basketball in June/July.

-----------

Wheelchair B'ball reaches new frontiers

Posted on 15 May 2007 - 16:58
South African Wheelchair Basketball celebrated a double triumph on Tuesday with the announcement of a strong national squad and a four-year sponsorship by Sasol in a critical year for the sport.

The Sasol sponsorship incorporates the national team and the sport's Technical Excellence Programme, and comes on the brink of a crucial Test series against the Netherlands on home soil.

South Africa will play the Dutch in six Tests in Johannesburg and Durban from 22 June to 8 July.

"We have signed a four year agreement and are delighted to be the sponsor of both the National Wheelchair Basketball Team, as well as the Technical Excellence Programme. We are partners in a well planned strategy to elevate this exciting sport to levels that will inspire players to greatness and rally the nation behind them in their endeavour to qualify for the next Paralympics," said group sponsorship manager Andriesa Singleton.

"We are extremely grateful to Sasol for their very generous sponsorship," said WBSA operations director Charles Saunders. "Wheelchair basketball in this country can now lift its performance. Funds are available to develop our best talent and to fly our best players to crucial matches at international venues."

"This sponsorship has come at a critical time for us as we prepare for the All Africa Games and the Paralympic Games qualifiers. We know that the money will be constructively spent,"added Saunders.

The South African squad will use the six matches against the Netherlands as preparation for the All Africa Games, which takes place in Algeria in July.

The team will then travel to Morocco on 23 July where they will play Paralympic qualifiers against the hosts, Egypt, Algeria and one other team, likely to be Angola.

National Team: Richard Nortje, Jeremy Nel, David Curle, Thandile Zonke, Luvuyo Mbanda, Sipho Gumbi, Marius Papenfus (captain), Nick Taylor, Malcom Chinian, Justin Govender, Marcus Retief, Shaun Hartnick. Reserves: Willie Mulder, Vuyani Dom, Lucas Sithole.

http://www.superxtra.co.za/default.asp?id=215332&des=article

Tennis in King's Park? Crazy. There's no tennis stadium in the world even remotely that large. The US Open's main stadium seats less than half of King's Park's 52,000!

Secondly, if Durban wants to bid on the Olympics, wouldn't it make more sense to keep the rugby stadium as a soccer venue? Wasting a stadium of that size on tennis is silly.

Third, the 'city has no doubt that rugby' will eventually move. And just how will the city convince the rugby union to move from a stadium they own? They'll have to force rugby to move. Then they'll have to compensate rugby for the loss of property. Do the city leaders really want to go down that road?

Much better to build another (reasonably sized) tennis stadium somewhere in the King's Park precinct.

On another note, is the drive-in site even big enough for a media centre? And what to do with the centre once the World Cup is over? Using the ICC makes alot more sense.

Flip 52 000 tennis stadium??? It could be bigger too coz the tennis court itself is wayy smaller than a rugby pitch. I dont see this happening, maybe temp like how they played tennis at the wanderers cricket ground.

^^ Na...Just do like me. I keep the same crappy cellphone for years. I drop it, scratch it and scuff it. By the time I'm done with it, it looks like a Pakistani bowler has tampered with it. And then no one wants to take it. :)
In bars, I leave it sitting out while I use the toilet. I come back, and it's still there. :cheers:

LOL!! or get one of those early 90s one that require a backpack to carry it!!

Guys you are all miss-reading the article about the tennis at absa stadium. What julie may was getting across is that when rugby is moved across to the new stadium, then absa stadium will more than likely be demolished to make way for the tennis centre. you would never leave the stadium standing and put the tennis courts inside, thats just even silly to think about it.

There is no other suitable land for tennis in the Kings Park precinct. The originally proposed land next to the aquatic centre has been found to be too noisey for tennis as it is right next to the M4 highway and also will not accomodate the required 24 courts the city wants.

Secondly, it would make much sense for the tennis centre to be adjacent to to the parkade and retail of Senz and the new retail and sports science institute at the indoor arena.

However having said that, the city would have to make sure it is cost effective to demolish kings park. It will also be a very emotive issue and one that i think will take a long to get approval and may also lead to outrage with citizens. Yes kings park is old, yes it is reaching the end of its usable life in many ways, but people will not accept that now. The only way to get them to accept that is for the new stadium to be up and running. Then encourage them to visit and use it as often as possible, get them to grow to love it and all it offers over Kings park, and then move forward with plans to demolish it.

Personally i think the kings park site for the tennis centre is the best suited in the city and should be persued

On another note, is the drive-in site even big enough for a media centre? And what to do with the centre once the World Cup is over? Using the ICC makes alot more sense.

This was the first time I heard of the Drive inn site. However it does make sense. The drive-inn site is incredibly well placed, with views of the stadium, and only 500m away. The site itself is almost as large as the existing ICC site.

I would like to know what the plans for the building in the future would be. In my opinion it would be converted into a sports facility after the games to compliment the kings park precinct.

They might have other plans for the ICC then during the WC....

And Durbs has been confirmed as the host of the SA-Chad match.

We had a discussion on which city is the country's sport's capital a few months ago. I seriously doubt any other SA city can seriously stake a claim to this title.

Yip... CT would be closest, but still way off

Guys you are all miss-reading the article about the tennis at absa stadium. What julie may was getting across is that when rugby is moved across to the new stadium, then absa stadium will more than likely be demolished to make way for the tennis centre.

Then Julie May shoulve have said that. The article never mentions demolishing ABSA Stadium. Nor does it mention using the site for a new tennis stadium. I agree that your interpretation is the most sensible one, but the article as written leaves only one impression: using ABSA as a tennis stadium - which would be the dumbest idea in a long history of dumb ideas. We didn't misread anything. The only mis- that took place is that either Ellingson mis-spoke, or Barbara Cole 'mis-wrote'. This is either very shoddy PR by Ellingson, or shoddy writing by Cole.

And you're absolutely right that tearing down King's Park will be contentious. For one thing, it's not the city's to tear down. :lol:

Agreed, distant second.

Here's another major soccer match coming to Durbs. And check out what our soccer coach has to say about Durbs. Looks like its reputation precedes it...

PS - good luck to Bafana in their match against world no.1, Italy. That's going to hurt!!

--------------------

Bafana Bafana heads for Durban

May 16 2007 at 09:58AM

With relegation having been the central, depressing issue for top-flight clubs from KwaZulu-Natal this season, fans in the province will be pleased to know that soccer's ruling men in Gauteng have lined up two Bafana Bafana matches for Durban in coming months.

The SA Football Association (Safa), with strong support from the KwaZulu-Natal government, will have Absa Stadium as the venue for Bafana's return clash with Chad in the African Nations' Cup Qualifying Competition on Saturday, June 2 (3.15pm kick-off).

And the city is to get another game in November featuring coach Carlos Alberto Parreira's men against unconfirmed opponents to coincide with the preliminary draw for the 2010 World Cup.

The home clash with Chad comes as the start of the second half of Bafana's Nations' Cup qualifying programme, with them leading Group 11 by two points after they defeated Chad 3-0 in the previous round in N'Djamena in March with goals from Surprise Moriri, Delron Buckley and Sibusiso Zuma.

Congo and Zambia sit in-between South Africa and Chad in the standings with three matches remaining.

"Since I came to South Africa," said Parreira on Tuesday, "I have heard that Bafana Bafana are welcome all over the country, that all the cities want to host the national team, but that Durban is special.

"Now the time has arrived. We are going to be here.

"It's our duty to deliver a good performance and bring a good result.

"We won't take the match for granted because we won 3-0 over there. Every game is important."

Parreira will actually first go to the Cosafa Cup mini-tournament in Swaziland with an experimental side next Saturday before coming to Durban with his regular players, whose names will be announced towards the end of next week.

Tickets for the game will go on sale at Computicket outlets around the country next week, ranging from R20 for the open stand to R100 for the suites.

The team will generally train at Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu, which means officials may consider a hotel north of the city, possibly Umhlanga, as a base to reduce time spent on the roads.

Before getting his turn to speak at yesterday's launch function at a five-star beachfront venue, Parreira had to listen to several politicians expressing the province's desire to have Bafana play in these paths as often as possible.

He also heard how Premier S'bu Ndebele was determined to lift the game in general in KZN by funding appropriate initiatives.

"We are first for spectatorship, but last when playing," noted the acting director general of the provincial government, Kwazi Mbanjwa, in reference to the fact that KZN fans are well known around the country for supporting big matches whereas clubs from the province have generally struggled for stability.

Mbanjwa and the politicians also reminded Safa that they were most keen to host teams far more powerful than Chad in the future.

S'bu Mngadi, the acting chief executive of the newly-established commercial wing of Safa, said the opposition for the other game in Durban in November, a friendly match, would probably be announced in June, as would finer details of a busy programme planned for the national team until the end of next year.

Apart from the continuation of the Nations' Cup qualifiers, Mngadi said an away friendly against Italy on October 17 had already been finalised.

"We will be unveiling the entire programme at the end of June. The matches will predominantly take place at home, but there will be away games, too," he said.

Meanwhile, AmaZulu will be pleased not to have picked up any new injuries ahead of their final league match against Ajax Cape Town at Athlone Stadium on Saturday.

To avoid the play-offs, Usuthu must basically get a better result than Premier United, who face Golden Arrows in Umlazi simultaneously.


This article was originally published on page 19 of Daily News on May 16, 2007

http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=2822&art_id=vn20070516094140598C121488&set_id=

^^ the city does OWN the land Absa stadium is on, the NRU has merely leased it, which expires in just a few years time.

Also its bad writing from Babara Cole, for another article i read (and will try find on net) stated that "the Absa stadium grounds would make for a good tennis centre".

I think Barbara knew what she was writing, just forgot others wouldnt.

Tourism Indaba 'exceptionally successful'

May 16 2007 at 12:10PM

By Suren Naidoo

Africa's biggest tourism trade show, Indaba, ended as it began - in a hive of bustling activity - as more than 1 800 stands were dismantled at Durban's International Convention Centre on Tuesday.

Indaba 2007 exceeded all expectations with even the 12 000-delegate target beaten. More than 12 200 delegates attended the event, representing a 6 percent increase on 2006 and exceeding SA Tourism's projected 5 percent increase.

"Indaba 2007 was an exceptionally successful event in terms of increased international and national tourism buyer participation, and I hope that the many exhibitors were able to seal deals," said Ndabo Khoza, Chief Executive of Tourism KZN, on Tuesday.

"During the four days (of Indaba) TKZN received several interesting proposals and entered into some big business deals. More importantly, we have built and enhanced many relations with the tourism trade and buyers," he said

Provincial Police Commissioner Hamilton Ngidi said that Indaba 2007 had been free of incidents.

"This is a positive sign for the success of future major events like the 2010 World Cup," he said.

SA Tourism Chief Executive Moeketsi Mosola said: "2007 event was a great success, superseding all expectations in every regard."

"2008 event (which takes place from May 10-13) promises to be even more diverse, more interactive and more rewarding than before," Mosola said.


This article was originally published on page 5 of The Mercury on May 16, 2007

http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=180&art_id=vn20070516032932288C717721

Well Babara mus'nt think everyone can read her mind.

Roxy Surf Jam Heads For Durban

May 16, 2007

Durban - the second Roxy Surf Jam presented by Virgin Mobile In Association With Resolution Health is set to take place at the Wedge in Durban on the weekend 26-27 May 2007. The Roxy Surf Jams are the funky, dynamic girls-only surfing events that take place across the country and feature the top female surfing talent from South Africa.

The Roxy Surf Jams cater for contestants from U14 all the way to the premier U20 division, where our next pro surfers will emerge from. East London's Rosy Hodge is a great example of a surfer who came through the ranks of the Roxy Surf Jams to be awarded a place on the coveted WCT.

Surfers can still enter the event by entering online at www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za, completing it, depositing the entry fee, and faxing the entry form and deposit slip to 0866166988. Contact Surfing South Africa on surfingsouthafrica@gmail.com for more info.

The Roxy Surf Jams are all covered on Boardriders TV, the groundbreaking high-action surf skate and snow show. Boardriders TV have already committed to covering the events in their entirety, thus giving them loads of valuable airtime.

The Roxy Surf Jams are presented by Virgin Mobile in association with Resolution Health and proudly supported by Saltwater Girl Magazine.

The Roxy Surf Jams are sanctioned by Surfing South Africa and form part of the Pro Surf Tour.

http://www.surfline.com/surfnews/surfwire.cfm?id=9260

Cross-post from the MM stadium thread.

--------------------------

South Africa: KZN Ready for 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup

17 May 2007
Posted to the web 17 May 2007

Bongani Mlangeni
Tshwane

The construction of Durban's new 70 000-seater stadium is ahead of schedule and the KwaZulu-Natal province will meet the deadline to complete the stadia.

This according to Acting Director General in the Office of the Premier Kwazi Mbanjwa on Tuesday, adding that the province was well on track to ensure that it was ready to host 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup matches.

"In this host city of Durban our 70 000-seater stadium is ahead of schedule and we will soon be launching an inner-city people mover," said Mr Mbanjwa.

The "people mover" forms part of a redesign process that the City of Durban is undergoing ahead of the Soccer World Cup by providing buses worth R1.3 million each to ferry people.

The buses were built to a standard comparable to buses used in major European cities.

They cater for a wide range of passengers and will be operating under a strict security system, as they will be installed with closed circuit surveillance cameras and wardens will be stationed at all of the service's 16 bus stops to assist tourists and passengers.

Apart from the new stadium, a host of other projects are in the pipeline to get the province "2010 ready".

"We have over ten hotels presently under construction and have a tremendous range of tourism products under development from beachfront experiences to historical, cultural and artistic products," Mr Mbanjwa said.

The completion of the new King Shaka Airport at La Mercy, which will facilitate better transport for tourists, is also expected to give the city a fair slice of the R21-billion in tourism spin-offs that the country will reap from the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup.

In November this year Durban will host the 2010 Fifa Preliminary Draw which will be one of Africa's biggest media events.

The preliminary draw will attract various world cup qualifying countries to Durban to see in which team grouping they will play.

Normally each group is formed by four teams who play against one another until only two of them qualify for another round.

The African qualifiers of the Beach Soccer World Cup will again be held in Durban.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200705170314.html

The People Mover buses still haven't hit the streets?

Dysan posted the route map last year. The City held a demonstration ride for VIPs in January (http://www.durban.gov.za/durban/Services/services_news/tourist_ticket?searchterm=people mover), and claimed then that the buses would be operational by March! :lol:

Glad to hear that the stadium's on track though.

Durbs is going rugby crazy. It's going to be cooking on Saturday...

---------------------------------

Durban set for Super 14 showdown

Giordano Stolley | Durban, South Africa


17 May 2007 05:55

Durban is generally touted as the country's surf capital. But such is the hype surrounding the upcoming Super 14 clash between the Sharks and the Bulls that even the surfers are talking rugby.

The city's two English-language daily newspapers have devoted pages and pages to the upcoming clash. And even the Zulu-language Illanga newspaper has carried a picture of the Sharks in a newspaper that normally devotes most of its sporting coverage to soccer.

And to keep the hype going, DJs on East Coast Radio's Big Breakfast show have challenged their counterparts at Radio Jacaranda in a dare to see whose fans are the most loyal and passionate.

The war of words between fans has been raging on blog sites set up by two radio stations for fans to vote for their team. More than 37 000 votes were counted in the first 24 hours.

While local rugby fans are gleefully anticipating the trophy going to the boys in black and white, the city's hospitality industry has been licking its chops at the thought of all the Bulls' supporters increasing the occupancy rate of hotels and bed-and-breakfast establishments.

Durban Africa's CEO Lindiwe Mahlangu said that during the weekend of the semifinal clash between the Blues and the Sharks hotels had been packed to capacity.

Admittedly the 12 000 delegates attending Africa's biggest tourism trade show made for impressive numbers, but Mhlangu said Bulls supporters descending on the city were likely to "continue the tourism momentum".

Within hours of the tickets going on sale on Monday they were snapped up. Several fans from both teams spent Sunday night sleeping outside the stadium in a bid to get tickets.

However, the Daily News reported that the VIP lounge of Coyote Supersuite in Absa Stadium still had 150 tickets available for the big game. The newspaper quoted co-owner Steve Haag as saying that standing only tickets priced at R1 200 were available.

They were expected to be snapped up by Thursday night. The ugly scenario of black-market touts has also reared its head with KwaZulu-Natal rugby officials warning against buying the tickets.

Throughout the city various drinking establishments have advertised the setting up of big screens for patrons to come and watch the match.

Stickers carrying the Sharks logo are to be seen on nearly every second car while the more enthusiastic have been seen mounting Sharks flags on the back of their bakkies.

Such is the passion of the final. One blogger said: "It's feeding time and Bulls are on the menu", while another retorted "Ag pleeze! Julle Sharkies is net grootbek!" [Oh, please! You Sharks are just big mouths]. -- Sapa

http://www.mg.co.za/articlepage.aspx?area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__sport/&articleid=308702

The People Mover buses still haven't hit the streets?

Dysan posted the route map last year. The City held a demonstration ride for VIPs in January (http://www.durban.gov.za/durban/Services/services_news/tourist_ticket?searchterm=people mover), and claimed then that the buses would be operational by March! :lol:

Glad to hear that the stadium's on track though.

Its the same as Joburg, they told us that th BRT will be effective from May 2009 and now they have postponed it to 2010. Have these people forgotten that there's a tournament coming in 2009?

Soccer lovers from around the world will be in the country from 2009. I hope that thier secutrity plans will be mobile already by 2009.

To be honest my main concern about 2010 SWC is Transport and my reason is simple, taxis owners will make sure that it fails unless they tackle it now.

This weekend, Its ALL about the RUGGA!!!! GO SHARKS GO!

you should see DUbai, loads of sharkies out here today

dont worry about busses...i think cape town and durban have ordered busses from the same place in sud america. its gonna be great

The People Mover buses still haven't hit the streets?

Dysan posted the route map last year. The City held a demonstration ride for VIPs in January (http://www.durban.gov.za/durban/Services/services_news/tourist_ticket?searchterm=people mover), and claimed then that the buses would be operational by March! :lol:

Glad to hear that the stadium's on track though.

It is a shocker, but its STILL tied up because of Renant Altron. They demand the licence to operate these "people movers" because they have the city transport buses. and have taken legal action to have it. I frankly dont want them to touch these new buses for they have fucked up the city bus service with their lack of maintainence or care for the needs of citizens.

so durban is not getting disabled friendly, low rise, new busses from sud america?

I think they already have the buses. If you click the link I included in post 1276, I think there's a picture. (Don't have time to check right now.)

I think they already have the buses. If you click the link I included in post 1276, I think there's a picture. (Don't have time to check right now.)

yes they already have the buses, anyway check this new pic out below, got it from The Mercury, which appeared with the Arc design article on Wednesday... on the Highroad to 2010 page...

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k59/DURBAN2010/MosesMabhidaDurbanNight.jpg

it does look truely amazing! But i think it will be taller than the image portrays.

I also doubt it will be so blindingly bright (and that the rest of the city will be so amazingly dark..). But it looks good! :)

I don't think it will be much higher. We have to factor its distance from the shore, which might even make it slightly shorter than protrayed. Either way, though, I can see a similar pic to this becomeing a new Durbs postcard.

Igesund would have made a good national coach. Pity he was always passed over.

----------------------

Durban throws its son a massive party
Bongani Mthembu
May 18 2007 at 12:45PM

THE eThekwini Municipality is organising the "biggest party of them all" to celebrate the success of Durban-born soccer coach Gordon Igesund.

Mayor Obed Mlaba on Thursday announced that the city would throw a big party for Igesund who has won four PSL trophies with different teams.

"Igesund has done wonders. We are proud of him and we want to have a big party to honour him," Mlaba said.

Igesund started his coaching career at Durban-based African Wanderers where he earned very little as the team was then entangled in a financial crisis. He worked very hard to achieve his goal of becoming one of the top soccer coaches in the country.

He has won the PSL trophy with Manning Rangers of Durban, Santos of Cape Town, Orlando Pirates of Soweto and recently for Mamelodi Sundowns of Pretoria.

Igesund wants to win the Absa Cup when his team, Sundowns, take on Ajax Cape Town in Durban next week.

"It will not be the first time that the city honours one of its soccer heroes. We threw a big party for former Bafana Bafana coach Clive Barker when he won the African Nations Cup for South Africa in 1996 and also for Penny Heyns when she excelled in the international competition," said Mlaba.

Speaking to the Daily News, Igesund said he felt honoured and proud that the city had decided to celebrate his success.

"I am over the moon that my home city has decided to celebrate with me. I am a Durban boy and I am proud of it," he said.

He said that the Absa final was a big prize for his team, adding that if they win it, they would have two trophies this year.

"I believe that we are going to win the game because my boys have been playing very well. I am happy because we will be playing in Durban which is a wonderful city for a final," he said.

This article was originally published on page 5 of Daily News on May 18, 2007

http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=19&art_id=vn20070518102405104C511149&set_id=

^^ we do tend to host good finals here, the soccer leagues almost have them here... So super 14 final this week, and Absa cup final in Durban next week. too packed stadium weekends. plus next weekend is the zulu rally doing its second round of WRC trials. and surfing, and paddleski...we bloody are the sports centre of the country

Igesund is the don of SA soccer, he would have made a brilliant coach for SA, but ya, thats politics, still gutted, but what can I do.

Thanx for the pic P2bSA, saw that 1 before, it looks awesome

VERY BAD and VERY GOOD news

Our fears have come true. This from apartmentbox, marketing agents for San Raphael

San Raphael took a hiding through building cost escalations and delays in getting on-site meant margins were chewed into at a rapid rate throwing the feasibility out. Very unfortunate but it is always an issue with high rise development.

So she is no more...rest in peace...


HOWEVER they also had this to say to me...

The Spinnaker is due for completion up to 29 floors at the end of 2007 and we will have a new high-rise commercial scheme coming online shortly, based on a Dutch design. It is A-grade commercial, superbly modern for the blue chip commercial investor.

I have asked for more information on the last bit, lets see what we find out!!! Will it be in the CBD? or Point? or even Umhlanga??

Just a further update on my previous post about the new tower. here are all the details that i have.

It is going to be a 33F Commercial Tower with a predominately glass facade. It will be ready for occupation in the final quarter of 2009 and is to be situated at the point waterfront. It will offer 25000m2 of AAA grade space. Pricing is R18000 -R20000/m2 and is aiming to be the premier Office tower in the city of Durban.

Market launch is in 3-4 weeks, but i should have a render within 2 weeks.

This is a very exciting development, and i eagerly await the design! as i am sure you do too! I dont know who the architects are at this point, or exactly which site they intend building on. I do know that the site has already recieved the correct zoning and is not limited by heritage buildings.

Royal performance from Durban’s Queensburgh

Ross Sibbald

(Residential) The average selling prices of property in and around Durban have increased during the first quarter of this year compared with the same period in 2006, although certain areas have simultaneously recorded a slowdown in gross rand sale growth.

These are among the findings of PropValues’ first quarter survey of 2007 which statistically analyses 11 different residential property zones throughout the greater Durban metropolitan area over the first quarter periods of 2006 and 2007.

According to PropValues spokesperson Ross Sibbald, the results of the survey are conclusive evidence that while the property market has come off the boil after peaking in 2004, real estate remains a sought-after commodity by both owner and investor.

Queensburgh, a popular family and first-time buyer destination, bucked any form of go-slow with the suburb recording a 70% increase in gross rand sales from the first quarter of last year to this year’s first quarter and a 33% rise in the average selling price from R597 777 to R794 984. The number of units sold increased by 28% for the period under review.

Berea also featured strongly, reflecting increased gross rand sales of 73%, a 39% increase in the average selling price from R730 974 to R1 016 785 and a 24% increase in the number of units sold over the period. Rose Deubler of Berea-based Rose Deubler Real Estate puts the starting price for a house in the area to almost R1 million. While the flat and duplex section of the market still has some properties starting at around R600 000, these go very quickly, she adds.

Results for Pinetown are also positive, with overall gross rand sales increasing by 50%, the average selling price rising by 11% from R598 907 to R663 300 and unit sales moving up by 35%, says Sibbald.

He also reports healthy activity in Westville where gross rand sales increased by 25%, complimented by a 6% rise in the average selling price from R1 124 022 to R1 190 190 and a 17% upsurge in unit sales. According to Lindi Honey, manager of Maxprop Westville, the market is steady, with prices having flattened out especially at the upper end.

Increases, albeit on a lesser level, were recorded in Umhlanga where gross rand sales rose by 15%, and the average selling price increased by 7% from R1 267 483 to R1 356 494 and number of units sold by 7%. The gross rand sales in Durban North dropped by 33% but the average selling price increased from R1 361 540 to R1 510 843. According to Sipke Beyl of Habitat Real Estate, Umhlanga remains a well regarded area offering excellent long-term investment growth potential for property. Steady growth in values is the norm, with intense buyer demand for new units around the R1 million mark. “Most of our sales are in this price range, interspersed with large sales of R3 million to R4 million,” he says.

The Bluff residential zone, traditionally an entry and middle income area, saw property values increase by 8% from R731 209 to R788 929 for the first quarter of this year compared with last year. Both gross rand sales and the number of units sold decreased by 37% and 42% respectively, according to Sibbald. In all likelihood, he says this is the result of buyers having entered a cautionary phase marked by concerns of further rate increases and a determination to find best value for money.

Craig Bell, franchisee of Acutts Bluff concurs. “With the entry level prices of flats now around R550 000 and houses in the region of R750 000, buyer affordability is under growing pressure. However, there has been a surge in activity in the last few weeks, characterised by a large increase in the numbers of both agent open hours and stock coming on to the market. We’ve also concluded a lot more deals than usual.”

The leafy suburbs of Montclair and Yellowwood Park have also shown a combined decrease in gross rand sales and the number of units sold, although Sibbald notes that the average selling price is up 6% from R529 243 to R558 342. A minor “ hiccup” has been experienced in the market, (which is considered the norm in property) when there has been a drop in buyers and an increase in properties coming on to the market, says Des Landsberg, sales director of Woodpark Real Estate. The transition leads to a slowdown generally, he adds, but is considered to be a temporary one. “Already the figures for the first half of May 2007 are indicative of an increase in business. I expect property prices to increase even further and business activity in general to improve considerably, in what is considered to be a changing but buoyant market.”

Dismissing concerns of a possible property bubble, Sibbald’s take on current conditions is that the market has entered a far more sustainable phase. This, he says, bodes well for continued, although more cautious, activity as buyers from all income sectors and for all property types baulk at paying what they consider to be excessive prices.



Submitted: 21 May 2007

Just a further update on my previous post about the new tower. here are all the details that i have.

It is going to be a 33F Commercial Tower with a predominately glass facade. It will be ready for occupation in the final quarter of 2009 and is to be situated at the point waterfront. It will offer 25000m2 of AAA grade space. Pricing is R18000 -R20000/m2 and is aiming to be the premier Office tower in the city of Durban.

Market launch is in 3-4 weeks, but i should have a render within 2 weeks.

This is a very exciting development, and i eagerly await the design! as i am sure you do too! I dont know who the architects are at this point, or exactly which site they intend building on. I do know that the site has already recieved the correct zoning and is not limited by heritage buildings.

At least there's some good news. I'm miserable about San Raphael though. She was my favourite new Durban tower. Damn!

Anyway this one sounds fantastic and it's great to have a considerable commercial presence in the Point. Will do much to incorporate it into the CBD instead of being a residential enclave in the corner.

Had some free time today so was going to take some pics of all the new developments going up in Hillcrest but felt like a tit taking pics in my home town so took some of Pinetown. Will post tomorrow - it's too cold to go get the camera out my car right now.

^^ haha, hillcrest would have been intersting for those of us that dont feel like driving to the other end of the world all the time. :) Was there last week and was mighty impressed with how the central area has changed. was sitting at the mugg and that new centre is mighty imposing!! I actually much prefer the other new centre opening opposite the heritage market. looks more upmarket....sadly tho i saw an RJ's and Cape town Fishmarket banner up!!!

At least there's some good news. I'm miserable about San Raphael though. She was my favourite new Durban tower. Damn!

Anyway this one sounds fantastic and it's great to have a considerable commercial presence in the Point. Will do much to incorporate it into the CBD instead of being a residential enclave in the corner.

I'm also gutted about San raphael, but i totally agree that this new building will add a fantastic new dimension to the point. I believe that the point needs to incorporate alot more commercial space, and this development is a step in the right direction. Being an iconic building will also add to the skyline. Having office workers in the area will also add to the people on the streets and help keep the place buzzing all thru the day. Cant wait to see the design!!

since we talking about new glass towers....DB whats happening to yours next to the icc??

I told you guys about SR many months ago but you all laughed at me, seems I have better intel that you think.
It is a pity but perhaps for the best as it will free up the site for something else.
On the commercial tower, Ill add it to Emporis as Proposed and make SR never built.

No idea Mike, still waiting, so busy with other projects at the moment, I hardly have time to ask around, presently Im not handling that project, but when designs come in I will be taking it over.

Here's a pic of a commercial development underway in Pinetown across the road from Pinecrest Centre. Seems there'll be a car showroom on the ground floor.

http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/6435/dsc08039li7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Also some general Pinetown skyline pics which I'll post in the gallery thread:

http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/3623/dsc08044sd0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img501.imageshack.us/img501/5194/dsc08042mz8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/7919/dsc08041xk3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

sheeze brings back memories, mum had shops in pinetown and It hasent changed in 20 years

pinetown has actually changed a bit on groundlevel, but there has been no new highrise development. If anything pinetown was spread and gobbled up more land with its ever growing industrial and housing needs

and the car showroom is for inspecta car, as well as showrooms for 2 new chinese branded vehicles.

I told you guys about SR many months ago but you all laughed at me, seems I have better intel that you think.
It is a pity but perhaps for the best as it will free up the site for something else.
On the commercial tower, Ill add it to Emporis as Proposed and make SR never built.

maybe you got first wind, but they told me they were only officailly informing people from yesterday

Hi guys..great forum. I bought an apartment at Sentinel this week. Paid 1.05m for 90m2 (2 beds/2 baths/2 side by side basement park/double volume lounge)from the developer. What u guys think of this block. Did i pay too much. Any comments appreciated.

Hey there mate and welcome to the forum! R1,05m is not bad for the area. i have yet to see the finishes in the sentinel so cant comment to the value for money, other than comparing to other dev's and original pricing.

When the sentinel first went on sale you could get your unit for R750k.

If you were to look at other blocks now, R1,05m is a good price for 2 bed 2 bath. Aurora's will set you back R1,6m. 12 on Palm - R1,7m and WEST R1,5m. Cheaper buildings like the Block will cost about the same as yours, but will be smaller since it is one the boulevard side of gateway, where the prices are generally higher.

All in all the price you got is good for the area.

[QUOTE=dysan1;13315927]Hey there mate and welcome to the forum! R1,05m is not bad for the area. i have yet to see the finishes in the sentinel so cant comment to the value for money, other than comparing to other dev's and original pricing.

Thanks Dysan

The finishes arent great. The thing i hate about these new developments is the interior doors..very cheap looking. I was happy that i got the top floor corner unit so the bathrooms have windows instead of extractors. Where do u think is a good place to buy a 1 bed apartment for 700k?

maybe you got first wind, but they told me they were only officailly informing people from yesterday

Mate what they tell you and what I hear from the consultsnts and movers and shakers in Durban are miles apart. I knew it was canned months ago as even with the height increase they couldent get it to work as its too high end. Appartments are too big and if you wanna go up in resi yuou wanna pack as many into the buidling as possible to amortize the cost of the land into as many appartemnsta s possible.
They have been fishing for a hotel opperator for ages and I hear they are now trying to flog the land and the development rights for a crazy figure. How stupid, if they cant make it stack, how can someone else paying even more for the land than they did.

Still a pity and belive me there will be many more that dont get off the ground (monyeni comes to mind)

Thanks Dysan

The finishes arent great. The thing i hate about these new developments is the interior doors..very cheap looking. I was happy that i got the top floor corner unit so the bathrooms have windows instead of extractors. Where do u think is a good place to buy a 1 bed apartment for 700k?

Welcome Copper, as Mike said, R1,05 aint bad for a 2 bed room, esp in that area. Yes most of these new apartments have el cheapo fittings, hence you get some developers offering top class fittings as an optional extra. Not sure where the location of the sentinal is, but if it is behind the Gateway, i.e closer to the N2, then the prices might be just tad turned down compared to the units infront of Gateway. yip having windows in your bathrooms is an added plus instead of extractor's, nothing beats fresh air.

With regards to the 1 bedroom place, are you also looking to get one in the URNTC area?

I'm not a fan of 1 bed apartments and will never buy one, they dont have the versatility and demand as 2 beds imo.

Seems as if sanity is finally prevailing. Well, we hope, anyway.

------------

Durban backtracks on names: Report

DURBAN – The eThekwini Municipality has backtracked on its plans to rename nearly 200 streets by extending the deadline for objections and inviting further submissions, the Mercury newspaper reported on Wednesday.
The deadline for submissions of new names and objections to existing proposals was extended to the end of June following a meeting of political parties on Tuesday, the newspaper reported.

Durban’s mayor Obed Mlaba was quoted as saying: “The ANC will encourage council to find different ways to commemorate those who played a major role in bringing about a non-racial, democratic, non-sexist and united South Africa.”

The controversial renaming has had some residents and opposition parties up in arms with the Democratic Alliance threatening legal action. The parties had not objected to the renaming but claimed that the ANC had not kept to the agreed process.

The DA also expressed its dissatisfaction at city manager Mike Sutcliffe’s role in determining which objections to the proposed names were acceptable.
More than 12,000 objections had been received by the previous deadline earlier this month. Sutcliffe’s statement that only about 120 of these were valid objections angered some residents and political parties.

On May 1 more than 10,000 people marched through the city centre in objection to the proposed name changes.

The chair of the name-change committee, Zandile Gumede, will make an official request to Sutcliffe for a 30-day extension of the deadline for names to be submitted and for more comments on the existing list.

The Mercury reported that the ANC’s attempt to heal relations with opposition parties had been welcomed by the DA, which described the meeting as positive but expressed disappointment that a meeting of that nature had not taken place at the beginning of the process.
DA spokesman John Steenhuisen was quoted as saying that the type of political engagement outside the arena of the full council was healthy for democracy and might have averted much of the unhappiness and resentment which had built up over the past four weeks if it had been held earlier. – Sapa.

http://www.citizen.co.za/index/article.aspx?pDesc=39512,1,22

I think the way Durban officials handled the name-changing process is a good lesson for other cities for how the matter should NOT be handled. The lessons learned from Durbs will hopefully help avoid the same mess occuring elsewhere.

Lets hope they do listen to the public.

Just a quick question... there is this email going around today with pictures supposedly taken in Durban, with the sea very icy and frozen and stuff....

Is this true?

^^ No way. I doubt it ever gets below 10C in Durban!!

Thats bullshit, got the same mail. Never in hell will Durbans beach or sea get that frozen

Thought so...

This money could have been better spent elsewhere....

------------------


Durban foots R2bn bill for province

May 24 2007 at 01:33PM

By Sibusiso Mboto

The eThekwini Municipality was footing a bill of more than half a billion rand every year for projects that should be handled by provincial departments, it emerged on Wednesday.

But now the heads of the departments of Health, Arts, Culture and Tourism, Housing and the Director-General's Office are to be hauled before the province's joint committee on finance and local government in June, to explain why they have relinquished some of their duties to the eThekwini Municipality.

The issue was raised on Wednesday at a meeting attended by Belinda Scott of the finance portfolio committee and Mbuso Kubheka of the local government and traditional affairs portfolio committee, to assess the performance of municipalities in financial management and service capacity.

Although eThekwini Municipal Manager Mike Sutcliffe painted a promising picture of how the municipality was meeting its obligations with its R17-billion budget, he also took a swipe at the departments for forcing the municipality to focus on mandates that fell outside its scope.

2006 financial books showed that the municipality had paid R651-million on services such as maintenance of health facilities, libraries, museums and hostels.

"It is worrying and we get a sense that departments do not want to own up to their responsibilities, and I am not going to allow this to continue," Sutcliffe told members of the legislature.

Committee members then took a resolution to have the relevant departments to appear in June to explain themselves and to accept their responsibilities.

Sutcliffe told committee members that since his arrival in the municipality, he had written many letters to department heads urging them to take ownership of their projects - pleas that appeared to have fallen on deaf ears.

The municipality paid R131-million for libraries, a mandate that fell under Arts and Culture, R267-million on Health facilities and R35,2-million on museums.

In addition to that, R217-million went to formal housing, metro housing and hostel maintenance - the responsibility of the housing department.

Non-payment by provincial departments required the municipality to allocate its own resources, and this had put a strain on the its coffers.

"This (maintenance of facilities) is an annual expenditure on our part and this means that since I took office, we have spent more than R2-billion on areas we should not be, and this has a bearing on some of our targets," Sutcliffe told The Mercury.

June's meeting, it is hoped, will resolve the impasse.

"We have to find out whether the departments have received the letters and the plans which they have formulated in dealing with the situation, because you can't have numerous letters dating three years back without a reply," said Kubheka.

The municipality also got a thumbs-up from both committees and the Treasury for striking a balance between economic growth targets and service provision.

sibusiso.mboto@inl.co.za

This article was originally published on page 5 of The Mercury on May 24, 2007

http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=124&art_id=vn20070524052208360C375099

'Restart Durban renaming process'
Carvin Goldstone
May 24 2007 at 01:43PM

In an attempt to push through the name-change process, the African National Congress in eThekwini, KwaZulu-Natal had ignored key legal guidelines of the 2001 name-change policy adopted by the council.

This was the view of the Democratic Alliance at a very tense meeting of the Masakhane non-racism, non-sexism, non-discrimination grant-in-aid subcommittee at the city hall on Wednesday.

One of the key requirements of the policy was that addressees (people living in the affected streets and other affected parties) should be consulted, the DA said.

In fact, the council had agreed to only support the changing of street names provided that addressees and affected parties were consulted, and that their views were considered.

In the present process, addressees had not been contacted individually but, instead, advertisements had been placed in newspapers.

The DA caucus leader in the council, John Steenhuisen, said that would be the basis of the party's pending legal challenge to the name-change process.

Wednesday's special meeting was called to approve the ANC move to extend the date for objections to June 23, 2007, and to call for more name-change proposals.

The ruling party made a late decision to extend the deadline after consulting all the other parties in the council.

The council hopes to review all proposals, make recommendations and finalise the renaming process by the sitting of full council at the end of June.

Both the ANC and the DA "parachuted" their executive committee heavyweights into the normally low-profile Masakhane meeting to join the debate.

Most of the meeting was out of the hands of the sitting committee members, with non-members Steenhuisen, Deputy Mayor Logie Naidoo and Speaker James Nxumalo all giving their views on the name-change process.

Municipal Manager Mike Sutcliffe recommended that the committee extend the date for submissions for new names to June 23. Ward committee chairperson would also need to submit their comments to the city manager by June 23.

When the DA argued that the framework guiding the name-change process had not been guided by the October 2001 name-change policy, Sutcliffe argued that the council was able to amend any policy.

Naidoo backed up Sutcliffe, saying that the Exco had taken an extraordinary decision and had agreed on the framework for this round of name changes. Steenhuisen argued that the Exco did not have any power to amend a policy because that responsibility belonged to the full council.

The DA did not support the recommendation for an extension of the submission date. It wanted the whole process restarted.

Steenhuisen claimed that the present process was a violation of the principles and procedures contained in naming and renaming of street policy passed by the full council on October 29 2001.

"This policy clearly indicates that the consultation must take place with the 'addressees', specifically, and that 'the section responsible for naming and renaming of streets must request the community of the area being developed and the area councillor to supply suggested names with reasons for choice,'" he said.

The DA position is that a framework must be agreed by all parties on the council and that the process must be started afresh, ensuring that all officially agreed policies, guidelines and procedures are adhered to.

This article was originally published on page 4 of The Mercury on May 24, 2007

http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=6&art_id=vn20070524052426273C862907

eThekwini Wins Silver at Prestigious Chelsea Flower Show

BuaNews (Tshwane)

24 May 2007
Posted to the web 24 May 2007

Bathandwa Mbola
eThekwini

The eThekwini Municipality has won a Silver Gilt Award at the prestigious 2007 Chelsea Flower Show held at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), Tuesday.

The Chelsea Flower Show takes place annually at the Royal Hospital grounds and is said to be the largest horticultural show in the world.

It is also a platform from which gardening trends of the future are staged.

Durban Botanic Gardens Curator and team leader Chris Dalzell said "the design incorporates elements of our different natural landscapes and also includes a life size rickshaw and beaded animals to showcase the Big Five and a water feature."

The announcement brought smiles to the team of eThekwini Parks Department staffers who have spent the past week preparing their stand.

Mayor Obed Mlaba congratulated the team and said what they showed at the show was "a small taste of the abundant flora that can be found in our truly beautiful city and province."

"Well done to our team, they have done us proud. No one looking at our stand could have been anything but proud to hail from this part of the world.

"We are particularly proud of the team from eThekwini because this is our first solo show at Chelsea and to walk away with a Silver Gilt is just wonderful," Mayor Mlaba said.

Mayor Mlaba said being able to participate in the Chelsea Flower Show allowed the City of Durban to showcase the horticultural skills of its staff, promote the city as a tourist destination leading up to the 2010 World Cup.

"Showing at Chelsea promotes the many parks and open spaces such as the Durban Botanic Gardens and Mitchell Park as a tourist destination for horticultural groups.

"It also promotes the many tourist attractions that Durban has to offer such as the ICC, beaches, school projects, medicinal plant projects, urban agriculture and our cultural diversity," he added.

The show celebrated its 85th anniversary this year and was the first solo exhibition showcasing the flora, fauna and deep rooted culture vested in the diversity of the city.

The Chelsea Flower Show attracts approximately 600 exhibitors from all over the world and nearly 200 000 visitors over its five day duration and highlights the gardening year.

This year the exhibitors included 20 show gardens, 26 small gardens and over 100 floral exhibitors.

City Manager Michael Sutcliffe said it was important for Durban to showcase both the attractions of the city and the skills and expertise of is people in shows such as Chelsea.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200705240458.html

This money could have been better spent elsewhere....

------------------


Durban foots R2bn bill for province

May 24 2007 at 01:33PM

By Sibusiso Mboto

The eThekwini Municipality was footing a bill of more than half a billion rand every year for projects that should be handled by provincial departments, it emerged on Wednesday.

But now the heads of the departments of Health, Arts, Culture and Tourism, Housing and the Director-General's Office are to be hauled before the province's joint committee on finance and local government in June, to explain why they have relinquished some of their duties to the eThekwini Municipality.

The issue was raised on Wednesday at a meeting attended by Belinda Scott of the finance portfolio committee and Mbuso Kubheka of the local government and traditional affairs portfolio committee, to assess the performance of municipalities in financial management and service capacity.

Although eThekwini Municipal Manager Mike Sutcliffe painted a promising picture of how the municipality was meeting its obligations with its R17-billion budget, he also took a swipe at the departments for forcing the municipality to focus on mandates that fell outside its scope.

2006 financial books showed that the municipality had paid R651-million on services such as maintenance of health facilities, libraries, museums and hostels.

"It is worrying and we get a sense that departments do not want to own up to their responsibilities, and I am not going to allow this to continue," Sutcliffe told members of the legislature.

Committee members then took a resolution to have the relevant departments to appear in June to explain themselves and to accept their responsibilities.

Sutcliffe told committee members that since his arrival in the municipality, he had written many letters to department heads urging them to take ownership of their projects - pleas that appeared to have fallen on deaf ears.

The municipality paid R131-million for libraries, a mandate that fell under Arts and Culture, R267-million on Health facilities and R35,2-million on museums.

In addition to that, R217-million went to formal housing, metro housing and hostel maintenance - the responsibility of the housing department.

Non-payment by provincial departments required the municipality to allocate its own resources, and this had put a strain on the its coffers.

"This (maintenance of facilities) is an annual expenditure on our part and this means that since I took office, we have spent more than R2-billion on areas we should not be, and this has a bearing on some of our targets," Sutcliffe told The Mercury.

June's meeting, it is hoped, will resolve the impasse.

"We have to find out whether the departments have received the letters and the plans which they have formulated in dealing with the situation, because you can't have numerous letters dating three years back without a reply," said Kubheka.

The municipality also got a thumbs-up from both committees and the Treasury for striking a balance between economic growth targets and service provision.

sibusiso.mboto@inl.co.za

This article was originally published on page 5 of The Mercury on May 24, 2007

http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=124&art_id=vn20070524052208360C375099

Same thing in Cape Town April 2006
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=6&art_id=vn20070426010553865C468666
Zille: no more spending on unfunded mandates

By Anel Powell

The City of Cape Town has drawn the line firmly about its responsibilities as a sphere of local government, saying it will no longer spend R500-million a year on projects that should be funded by the province.

3 Weekends of Sporting madness for Durbs, 2 weeks ago it was the Super 14 semi final with just under 52 000 people, followed by the Final where an estimated crowd of 54 000 (dont know how they got that figure since the stadium holds 52 000) attended & this weekend the final of the ABSA Cup.

ABSA Stadium is making moola this month! todays paper said that they made R9 million after the 2 matchs.

52 000 (and a few more) paying seats, it excludes media, service staff, so prob the 54000

also this weekend is the zulu rally.

i'm glad to be back with the world

Durban's renaming process has even made the New York Times...

----------------------

Where the Road to Renaming Does Not Run Smooth

By MICHAEL WINES
Published: May 25, 2007

DURBAN, South Africa, May 18 — None of South Africa’s big cities are so redolent of colonialism as this old seaport, namesake of a British major general and headquarters, in the early 1800s, of a British colony at Africa’s southern tip. Durban’s baroque city hall is said to be a clone of Belfast’s. From Brighton Beach to Victoria Market, allusions to colonial dominance are inescapable.

In Durban, allusions to colonial dominance are inescapable.
So one could hardly blame Durban’s thoroughly postcolonial leaders for wanting to redress this imbalance, and give some of the area’s byways and landmarks names honoring the architects of democratic South Africa. And perhaps nobody would have, had matters stopped there.

But they did not. And so the renaming of Durban’s landmarks has become a political brouhaha of the first order, and an object lesson in the pitfalls of building South African democracy.

On May 1, at least 6,000 marchers paraded through the city’s downtown, protesting local proposals to bestow new names on as many as 180 major streets and buildings. Black and white, stick-wielding and peaceful, the demonstrators massed at city hall to complain — not about the idea of renaming landmarks, but about the new names themselves.

Specifically, they complained that some names seemed chosen not to honor modern South African heroes, but to heap glory on the African National Congress, the ruling party in South Africa and in the metropolitan area that includes Durban.

More specifically, they complained that some of the proposals seemed intended to slight the party’s political rivals.

Cases in point: Some white Durbanites who support the minority Democratic Alliance party were offended by proposals to name neighborhood lanes after Fidel Castro, Che Guevara and Yasir Arafat — A.N.C. heroes who, they argued, were hardly democrats, and hardly in the anti-apartheid forefront.

They were even more incensed by a proposal to name a street after Andrew Zondo, an African National Congress guerrilla who killed five white civilians in a 1985 bombing in that very neighborhood.

“It’s akin to naming one of the streets in downtown Manhattan after one of the bombers of 9/11,” said John Steenhuisen, who heads the Democratic Alliance caucus in Durban.

Some black Durbanites, meanwhile, were indignant over a proposal to rename the Mangosuthu Highway, a major artery that now honors Mangosuthu Buthelezi, a veteran Zulu politician. They were equally angered by a second proposal to rename Princess Magogo Stadium, an arena that currently honors Mr. Buthelezi’s mother, a Zulu cultural icon.

Coincidentally or otherwise, Mr. Buthelezi heads the Inkatha Freedom Party, the principal rival to the African National Congress in KwaZulu-Natal Province, which includes Durban.

“Why are they undoing a street that has been named after Mangosuthu Buthelezi?” asked the Rev. Muso Zondi, a spokesman for the Inkatha Freedom Party. “Are they suggesting that his is an offensive apartheid name?”

Durban’s Internet blogs and even the op-ed pages of newspapers have been filled with comments on the proposed renamings, many of them critical. “It’s been very badly handled,” Mary de Haas, an anthropologist who has tracked political and racial violence in KwaZulu-Natal for decades, said in an interview. “The whole thing has been provocative. There’s been a complete lack of transparency. People want reconciliation, decent-minded people. They don’t want to reopen old wounds.”

Durban’s city manager, Michael Sutcliffe, insists that reopening wounds was never the intent. “I think people have read a degree of provocation into this that I honestly believe doesn’t exist,” he said. The proposed renamings, he said, are just that — proposals, from politicians and ordinary citizens alike, that the city council may or may not vote into law. Indeed, he says, the list of changes was made public precisely to give people a chance to comment on it.

Ms. De Haas and other critics counter that the vast majority of the proposed changes apparently came from local leaders of the African National Congress — apparently, that is, because the city so far has declined to say precisely who was behind them.

Durban’s upheaval runs counter to much of the rest of South Africa, which has generally accepted similar renaming exercises with equanimity, if not alacrity. There was widespread approval for the renaming this year of Johannesburg’s airport after Oliver Tambo, a leading anti-apartheid figure and former African National Congress president. Cape Town is peacefully discussing the renaming of dozens of places after modern South Africa figures. After a spirited but civil debate, residents of the administrative capital, Pretoria, are adjusting to the still unofficial designation of their city, Tshwane — a name variously said to derive from a king’s son, a river and the phrase “we are the same.”

Durban is different. Intentional or not, some of the proposed name changes clearly flick at scabs covering deep divisions. Mr. Buthelezi, a prominent Zulu chief, is at the center of some of them.

Once a loyal African National Congress member, he split from the party in a poisonous dispute over how best to oppose apartheid. In the early 1990s, his supporters and African National Congress loyalists fought a guerrilla war that killed 20,000 people and sealed an enduring enmity between the movements. After South Africa became a democracy in 1994, Mr. Buthelezi’s Inkatha Freedom Party won elections to lead KwaZulu-Natal, and he served in Nelson Mandela’s cabinet.

The African National Congress wrested control of KwaZulu-Natal from Mr. Buthelezi in the 2004 elections, and the two sides have kept an uneasy peace since then. But Mr. Buthelezi views Durban’s proposal to rename the Mangosuthu Highway, which runs through the center of the area’s largest township, as a shot across his bow, and has warned that stripping his name from the road could be viewed as a hostile act.

Mr. Sutcliffe, the city manager, offers a somewhat strained demurrer: the Mangosuthu Highway, he says, was never legally given that name, and is in fact described on city plans as Spinal Road.

That would surprise drivers who see “Mangosuthu Highway” on street signs during their daily commutes. The argument clearly does not impress Mr. Buthelezi, whose supporters made up the majority of the protesters on May 1.

“I feel obliged to caution the ruling party against their rush to rewrite the history of this province,” he wrote in an Internet broadside last month. “Renaming must not be conducted in a manner befitting Mao’s Cultural Revolution, in which names and events that do not fit into the ruling party’s liberation narrative are disdainfully ejected.”

Mr. Sutcliffe said he fully expected the proposals to raise hackles. He said he would soon offer city council members his own recommendations, which may temper some of the more controversial suggestions.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/25/world/africa/25durban.html?em&ex=1180238400&en=137dc262cfdcc8fc&ei=5087%0A

Durban's renaming process has even made the New York Times...

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/25/world/africa/25durban.html?em&ex=1180238400&en=137dc262cfdcc8fc&ei=5087%0A

Yeah thats great, CT has also been popping up in the NY times recently.

its actually well written for an american article and seems to get to the point that it is very mao ish or even Komer rouge in its application. Bo one objects to the renaming but the way its gone about and the names like arrafat make alot of people pissed.

Hey guys, think Durban has made a major scoop these past few weeks, and good showing from the ABSA stadium.

1) First there was the Super 14 Semi on 12 May- 52 000 people.

2) Then the Final the following week on 19 May - 54 000 people.

3) Then last nite (26 May) The ABSA cup final - 52 000 people.

4) And finally next week (2 June) is the South Africa v Chad game, where we could expect at least over 30 000.

All in all, a bloody good showing for one straight month... plus much more on the go...need to really tabulate all..

Durban = Sports City... and we get the crowds in!

Hey guys, think Durban has made a major scoop these past few weeks, and good showing from the ABSA stadium.

1) First there was the Super 14 Semi on 12 May- 52 000 people.

2) Then the Final the following week on 19 May - 54 000 people.

3) Then last nite (26 May) The ABSA cup final - 52 000 people.

4) And finally next week (2 June) is the South Africa v Chad game, where we could expect at least over 30 000.

All in all, a bloody good showing for one straight month... plus much more on the go...need to really tabulate all..

Durban = Sports City... and we get the crowds in!

not that i really care but GO Ajax!

Thats great for Durbs, but I hope they will soon follow Jozi and CT by keeping the city safe and clean.

dude your rhetoric is getting a tad annoying. Your statement is based on what? I can go anywhere in any of cities and find dirty areas and clean ones, safe and danderous ones. For you to state that one a whole Joburg and CT are safer and cleaner than Durban means that you must know more than the intelligence agencies, police and all NOGS that look at these areas. For that i say, stop doing your day job and go off and make millions selling your intellect to government.


On a related note. Durban was once again voted best run city in Africa for 2007. Third straight year now!

Zulu Rally gives Durban motorsport a boost

May 26, 2006, 17:15

As a direct result of the success of the South African round of the A1 Grand Prix, Durban is well on its way to becoming the hub of international motorsport in South Africa. Last night saw the launch of the aptly named Zulu Rally. The Rally is currently taking place in Durban and surrounding areas until Sunday.

The Zulu Rally is a round of the Federation Internationale de 'Automobile (FIA) Africa Rally championships. It also doubles as South Africa's bid for inclusion in the World Rally Championships calendar for 2007.

International rally events have the potential to generate over R100 million a year for the host country. Up to one billion television viewers make rallying second to World Cup Soccer. After the first day of racing, local entrants Enzo Kuun and Guy Hodgson were in over all pole position. Stages 11 and 12 will be raced in the Richmond district tomorrow

http://www.sabcnews.com/sport/other/0,2172,128229,00.html

Pule, I spend time in JHB and CT. More importantly, I have spent time in both city centres for work-related reasons. Both cities have pockets of cleanliness and filth. It's the same with Durbs. Also bear in mind that FAR more people walk through Durban streets than CT and JHB combined (an estimated 300,000 PER DAY). That amount of foot traffic is bound to cause more litter than JHB and CT, where most parts of the city centres are relatively abandoned (JHB) or relatively small and devoid of people (CT).

Thus, faced the choice of having an abandoned or bare (or sanitised) city centre or a vibrant one, I would choose vibrant, even if it comes with more litter. By the way, it also depend what time you visit the city centre. If you visit the city in the morning, its clean, at 5pm the main streets are more litter-strewn, at 8pm, its clean again. The cleaning staff do an amazing job given the daily task they're faced with.

dude your rhetoric is getting a tad annoying. Your statement is based on what? I can go anywhere in any of cities and find dirty areas and clean ones, safe and danderous ones. For you to state that one a whole Joburg and CT are safer and cleaner than Durban means that you must know more than the intelligence agencies, police and all NOGS that look at these areas. For that i say, stop doing your day job and go off and make millions selling your intellect to government.


On a related note. Durban was once again voted best run city in Africa for 2007. Third straight year now!

One thing you need to do is to be an ambassador for durbs instead taking time and writing what you have written. I would appriciate a healthy debate and I believe that you be you need to be my tour guider instead of bashing me. I come to Durbs as a tourist cos I love its vibe but the points I just mentioned repelled me and my buddies.

If there are improvements, tell them to me and other potential tourists. Show me what I fail to see so that I can make my next trip to the Sports City. I love Durbs, but that wouldnt stop me from pointing the wrongs that I see.

The last time I checked our country's constitution was strong in allowing freedom of speech, but then I still stand to be corrected. The purpose of my post was to voice my areas of concern, as a tourist, of which I got a practical experience of.

By the way congrats on your award ;

Pule, I spend time in JHB and CT. More importantly, I have spent time in both city centres for work-related reasons. Both cities have pockets of cleanliness and filth. It's the same with Durbs. Also bear in mind that FAR more people walk through Durban streets than CT and JHB combined (an estimated 300,000 PER DAY). That amount of foot traffic is bound to cause more litter than JHB and CT, where most parts of the city centres are relatively abandoned (JHB) or relatively small and devoid of people (CT).

Thus, faced the choice of having an abandoned or bare (or sanitised) city centre or a vibrant one, I would choose vibrant, even if it comes with more litter. By the way, it also depend what time you visit the city centre. If you visit the city in the morning, its clean, at 5pm the main streets are more litter-strewn, at 8pm, its clean again. The cleaning staff do an amazing job given the daily task they're faced with.

Of course I certainly agree with you.
But CT did not become the cleanest city in South Africa purely by default. From what I can tell(correct me If im wrong) you are suggesting that simply because the task in CT is much smaller in terms of cleaning up that its been successful. Many years of hard work have gone into cleaning up the CBD both literally and figuratively.

I don't for a second believe that if a thousands upon thousands more people walked the streets of CT that it would not be as clean as it is today. Or that some effort would not be made to keep it looking great.
Can we simply use the scale of a CBD or city as an excuse for it not being as clean as it could be ?I've been to Durban this month. It could be cleaner.

As for Jozi..its clean?

dude your rhetoric is getting a tad annoying. Your statement is based on what? I can go anywhere in any of cities and find dirty areas and clean ones, safe and danderous ones. For you to state that one a whole Joburg and CT are safer and cleaner than Durban means that you must know more than the intelligence agencies, police and all NOGS that look at these areas. For that i say, stop doing your day job and go off and make millions selling your intellect to government.


On a related note. Durban was once again voted best run city in Africa for 2007. Third straight year now!

and which city won the cleanest city in south africa award? hehe
i dont think pule meant to get you all excited, i think he was specifically referring to the Durban CBD area.

Pule: only tiny pockets of Jozi CBD are clean and safe. A good start but the city centre cannot by any stretch be described as clean and safe yet.



Durban CBD is hardly clean or safe outside of the west street spine. I certainly would not walk round there with a camera round my neck, nor would I do so around the central or southern beachfront (which are a bloody mess and a disgrace)

I LOVE durban but only from north beach onwards!!

(if cape town can keep an entire city centre clean and safe why the hell can durban not keep a beach and a couple of blocks back from the beach clean and safe. That is why durbs is not in the top ten world cities and cape town is).

CT CBD is almost all clean and safe, it is not a matter of good pockets but the whole thing is great from the top of kloof street right down to the foreshore and the waterfront.The only exeption I can think of is the railway station and that is being upgraded as we speak.

I think we are getting way too excited about this. Concerning 300 000 feet in durban, 800 000 commuters pass through jozi on a daily basis. And most cities have pristine areas, and not so nice areas. It gets better if you get to know the place. I was staying in the north beach southern sun last year october, and I was too cautious to go for a walk! And that was only because of my misperceptions.

Even in joburg it took me a long time to venture further. I got more relaxed as I got to know the CBD. And now I am quite comfortable. But ja, I don't think we need to bite each other's heads off. Our fears are fed with our own misperceptions. Durban CBD has such amazingly vibrant architecture. But the south beach part is looking old and drab. Even north beach shows its age - but with more grace. and from what I have heard from insiders Durban municipality is one of the best performing ones (I might be wrong)?

And the "tiny" pockets of clean and safe areas in the jozi cbd are getting bigger. Actually during the day the whole area from newtown to the carlton is quite nice. And the south and north western part is awesome. Joubert park still intimidates me...

Of course I certainly agree with you.
But CT did not become the cleanest city in South Africa purely by default. From what I can tell(correct me If im wrong) you are suggesting that simply because the task in CT is much smaller in terms of cleaning up that its been successful. Many years of hard work have gone into cleaning up the CBD both literally and figuratively.

I don't for a second believe that if a thousands upon thousands more people walked the streets of CT that it would not be as clean as it is today. Or that some effort would not be made to keep it looking great.
Can we simply use the scale of a CBD or city as an excuse for it not being as clean as it could be ?I've been to Durban this month. It could be cleaner.

As for Jozi..its clean?

Mo, just remember that Durban won the same award for cleanest city in SA the year before CT (2005). If CT has been so consistently clean, why didn't CT win it that year too? And before?

And yes, a smaller surface area AND less foot traffic definitely equates to less litter and a more manageable problem. Plus there are other factors (see below). CT will NEVER have 300,000 people walking through its streets on a daily basis so its a moot point to suggest that it would be cleaner if it did.

Lastly, Durban is the only metro in the country with a formal policy on integrating informal traders into the mainstream economy. In fact, it has been widely lauded for doing so. It's not perfect but its better than nothing, and it still gets criticised. On the other hand, CT discourages informal trading on its streets (it has half the number of informal traders than Durban has), and JHB is indifferent to their needs (in fact, CT and JHB don't even recognise street traders).

While Durban's policy is great for the most marginalised people who are trying to eke out an honest living, it is a double-edge sword. Informal traders come with boxes, plastic wrapping, paper wrapping (for fruit) etc. This forms the majority of the litter on Durban streets. CT never has to face the problem on the same scale.

Given these factors, its relatively large surface area (which accordingly necessiates more cleaners and more cleaning), and its high foot traffic, Durbs will have more litter, on average, than CT. It thus impressive that the city still won the award for cleanest municipality in 2005, despite these factors. In my next post I'll post some info on informal trader stats for the 3 major SA metros.

No fair trade for SA's street vendors

Thijs van der Post | Johannesburg, South Africa
Mail & Guardian
25 April 2007 11:59

On average, he makes 50 cents per copy, but for Sinandile, and hundreds of thousands of others, this is all that stands between him and abject poverty.

"This isn't life, my brother. But it's all I can do. I see no alternative. At least I'm making an honest living," he says, heaving a sigh when he looks at the colourful Lamborghinis and top-end Mercedes vehicles in the showroom of Ashley's Investment Cars just across the street.

This Cape Town intersection starkly illustrates the contrast between South Africa's rich and poor. Out in the blazing sun works Xolani, breathing exhaust fumes and wondering if he will sell enough papers to make it through the day, while a stone's throw away, in the air-conditioned showroom, well-dressed men are struggling to choose between a new Jaguar or a Maserati.

Xolani is the personification of the most visible part of the informal economy in South Africa. Every day, he and an estimated million other informal traders peddle their goods on the streets of South Africa, trying to eke out a living.

According to the September 2006 Labour Force Survey (LFS), there are 2 379 000 people working in informal enterprises in South Africa. How many of them are street traders remains unsure, as the sector is very volatile.

Caroline Skinner, of the school of development studies at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, has been involved in research and policy work in the informal economy. "As we look closer to the data of the LFS, we can see that 50% of these 2 379 000 people are working in the retail sector. Of these, 1 189 500 -- a big proportion -- would be street traders," she calculates.

"In terms of city-level statistics, I would estimate -- on a very rough calculation -- that there are between 60 000 and 70 000 traders in both Johannesburg and Durban and 35 000 in Cape Town."

Low on cash
The array of goods being hawked on the streets is astounding -- cellphone accessories, sunglasses, paintings, shoe storage pouches, beadwork, clothes and even jokes are for sale.

However, according to a report by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), about "70% of all street traders in the country sell food" and most of them "are the main breadwinners for their family".

This is the case for Elvis Sithebe (27), of Soshanguve near Pretoria, who lives with and cares for his three younger brothers. Asked why his parents are not earning an income, he replies that he would rather talk about his own business.

Sithebe's business is "his" pitch located on the corner of Jan Smuts and Seventh avenues in Rosebank, Johannesburg. He sells different kinds of seasonal fruit.

"On a good day I earn R80 to R150. Today I sell papayas and red grapes, but it doesn't go to well," he complains. "Every day, I have to travel to and from Pretoria in a bakkie with about 10 other guys. That costs me R60. And as of now, my sales don't even add up to that."

Policy problems
Besides being low on cash, South Africa's street traders have other problems looming.

"The biggest problem for street traders is that their only negotiating partner is the local government," says Pat Horn, of Streetnet International, an organisation that protects the rights of hawkers and street traders.

"And the local government turns a blind eye to their problems. Especially in Johannesburg and Cape Town, street traders aren't recognised. There is a major problem in continuity as cities never have any long-standing policy strategies," she says.

Horn regrets that municipalities seem to long for the days when they were allowed to prevent street trading. Although she is glad things have changed, she now sees a new peril in the outsourcing of governmental responsibilities to other institutions.

"Johannesburg and Cape Town are both outsourcing some of their responsibilities to other institutions. This approach results in violent conflicts, as there is fierce competition revolving from it," she says.

"The problem with outsourcing responsibilities to particular street-vendor organisations is that the permit system becomes very irregular and corruption thrives. There are different kind of permits for different prices and even fake permits. And as the organisations are racially composed, some people are favoured over others."

Horn fears that with the 2010 Soccer World Cup approaching, things may look even worse for street vendors as "all existing policies are thrown out of the window to clear the streets".

The ILO report confirms that the Johannesburg city council's aim "seems to be to remove all street traders from the streets of the central business district". It adds that "street traders clog up pavements, are obstructing pedestrians and vehicles, and make the city dirty and dangerous".

However, according to a member of the Johannesburg mayoral committee for finance and economic development, councillor Parks Tau, informal traders have nothing to worry about.

"Jo'burg has no intention of removing informal traders from streets or implementing punitive measures against them in preparation for the 2010 Soccer World Cup. That is unlikely to happen for an event that will come and go, whereas street trading is here to stay," he says.

Tau adds that the city has "committed itself to the creation of an all-inclusive policy formulation and development mechanism that will have completed its initial work by end July 2007".

Fair trade
A city that has tried to implement a fair policy towards street traders is Durban. Horn says it is the only city that has, in the past, recognised street traders as business people.

"If we can speak of a 'best' policy programme concerning street traders, Durban had it. It had the most holistic approach. They had an implementation working group and a database which keeps track of everybody who is working on the street."

But as Horn remarks, policy continuity is the big problem. "Unfortunately, due to reorganisation the policy was abolished and the implementation has come to a standstill. Even the database was stopped."

This is the problem in all cities, Horn says. Policy implementation falls victim to the whim of the persons in charge. Most of the time, these officials have no intention to maintain a long-standing policy strategy.

At the Cape Town intersection, Xolani returns from another fruitless stroll past the endless line-up of cars. He leans against a tree to enjoy some of its shade. "Sure, I would like to do something else. But how?" He pulls up his shirt. Streaks of inflamed flesh unfold from just below his neck all the way to his lower body. "I was almost burned alive in a shack. Firemen saved me. One day I hope to be one of them."

http://www.worldproutassembly.org/archives/2007/04/no_fair_trade_f.html

Roman, interesting article but honestly most of the people who are involved in crime in our city have been those who act as street vendors and I have said before that Im not against street but it must be controlled properly. Have you seen havoc caused by street vendors in durban CBD, I personally do not feel safe in that kind of environment. If only the eThekwini can make sure that all vendors across the city conduct themselves the way that the ladies, near the long distance bus terminal office by Marine Parade do, then durbs will be great.

Mo, just remember that Durban won the same award for cleanest city in SA the year before CT (2005). If CT has been so consistently clean, why didn't CT win it that year too? And before?

And yes, a smaller surface area AND less foot traffic definitely equates to less litter and a more manageable problem. Plus there are other factors (see below). CT will NEVER have 300,000 people walking through its streets on a daily basis so its a moot point to suggest that it would be cleaner if it did.

Lastly, Durban is the only metro in the country with a formal policy on integrating informal traders into the mainstream economy. In fact, it has been widely lauded for doing so. It's not perfect but its better than nothing, and it still gets criticised. On the other hand, CT discourages informal trading on its streets (it has half the number of informal traders than Durban has), and JHB is indifferent to their needs (in fact, CT and JHB don't even recognise street traders).

While Durban's policy is great for the most marginalised people who are trying to eke out an honest living, it is a double-edge sword. Informal traders come with boxes, plastic wrapping, paper wrapping (for fruit) etc. This forms the majority of the litter on Durban streets. CT never has to face the problem on the same scale.

Given these factors, its relatively large surface area (which accordingly necessiates more cleaners and more cleaning), and its high foot traffic, Durbs will have more litter, on average, than CT. It thus impressive that the city still won the award for cleanest municipality in 2005, despite these factors. In my next post I'll post some info on informal trader stats for the 3 major SA metros.

So now its the informal traders fault?
I really get what you saying, but the effort in CT and the CBD as a whole, is not just there because the CBD is smaller and more manageable.
From my visit to Durban this month, I can't say that I see any real change. There are so many things that could be done and improved without removing informal traders. It seems so easy to keep the main areas clean and tourist friendly but its just not happening most times.

We both know that the CBD has such huge potential and I think most people really want the CBD to thrive. It might be spruced up a little bit before 2010, but I don't think it will be as welcoming as it could be by then. At best its disappointing, Im just not sure why more is not being done.

No one said its the informal traders fault, Mo. Don't put words in my mouth.

You conveniently haven't responded to the points I made re: Durban's past award of the same award that you've been piping about (in the year immediately preceding CT's award) and why CT hasn't been awarded this award every year since its inception if it has been so consistently clean.

Also, Mo, you speak about CT like its spotless when its not. Have you seen the litter around your city hall and in the gardens alongside parliament, especially in the afternoon? I have, on many occassions. It's undeniable. It's there. Have you seen the litter on weekends at the V&A? It's not spotless either.

I'm also not sure which parts Durban city cente in frequent as you almost always (with just few exceptions) have very negative perceptions of the city, particularly the CBD. We have had similar discussions on this issue in this past but you continue to raise the same thing, again and again, every now and then. I feel like the retort of the Durban posters is like a useless repeat of the same information we have posted before. This is unlikely to change so a dialogue with you on this particular issue is a bit fruitless, in my opinion. I hope I don't get tempted by the same bait again.

I never claimed that CT was spotless. My "perceptions" are based on my visits to Durban. The truth is more can be down within the Durban CBD to clean up the CBD not only in terms of litter. From what I've seen and others on this forum have seen its not happening. Anyway thats that.

OK end of debate on the subject, its not worth the effort to read all your rants.
Relax and compliment eachother and our cities not trying to find fault all the time

My recent visit to Durban ended with the view that its probably the filthiest city I have ever visited in my life. Quiet frankly I think it even beats Hillbrow. Sorry.

^^Thank you ,feel free to come litter again. :jk:

Theres too much to read here :ohno:

Ha ha I was just waiting for Molokai to throw in some insult.
Ho hum...this discussion is a tedious waste of time that has no hope of becoming anything constructive. Honestly how many times do we have to go through this. I think every major SA city has been ripped apart by it's own countrymen in the SA forums for the sake of nothing.

Ha ha I was just waiting for Molokai to throw in some insult.
Ho hum...this discussion is a tedious waste of time that has no hope of becoming anything constructive. Honestly how many times do we have to go through this. I think every major SA city has been ripped apart by it's own countrymen in the SA forums for the sake of nothing.

I actually did not mean for it to come across as an insult, my recent visit to Durban was a wake up call. And it left me terribly saddened, I use to love Durban and have plenty of memories still fresh in my mind, memories of good times that my children will never be able to experience. The place was dirty and anybody with their head screwed on sort of OK would notice this hard to admit fact.

Don't think I am at all implying Cape Town is immune to these problems, in fact its far from it and there are places here too that have filth all over the streets. The African virus is slowly eating us all away and its not limited to a few places. Either we accept it and get on with our lives, or we can choose to let it get to us. I choose to admit that we have certain major problems that need to be addressed right now in order for SA to have any sort of future. Better south Africans talking about this I say than potential tourists going home with info like this. It gives us a chance to make right. As I said, my recent visit to Durban saddened me thats all, Durban is a great city and I hate to see it following the same trend as all of those other once grand African cities. And its a pitty, because Durban has such a nice climate, a nice warm indian ocean and all of this is getting harder and harder to enjoy. Soon it will be limited to the brave and homeless, unless that is the place cleans up its act.

Goodness me, but this discussion is getting out of hand... It seems that everyone wants to bash the other city by comparing the "rival's" worst part with their best parts? Guys, this discussion is quite useless. All of our city centres have problematic areas. Durban and Johannesburg have bigger challenges - bigger cbd's, more residential units etc. But there is a move forward. Last time I was on the marine parade guys were scrubbing the pavement! Now that is commitment. And in areas such as Braamfontein, SouthWest and retail districts in Jozi it is clean, even during peak foot traffic times! Ghandi square is virtually litter free (and I have been there a lot) even though thousands pass through this central bus nerve every day. Other areas are worse - esp bree street.

But we can't generalize. On to better discussions?

On a side note. In Jozi we seem quite used to being bashed by our "liberal" coastal countrymen. It is interesting that we tend to keep quiet (or try to at least) and dignified, realizing that jozi does not appeal to all (indeed, this whore is not everyone's cup of tea). But we made peace with the fact that other's will always label our city most dangerous, boring, mine-dumpy, bad-architectural, conservative, dirty blah blah. Some of us see her differently - and it is a matter of opinion. Now if someone notices a bit of dirt in your street - and mentions it, no need to crap yourself, is there? Come-on: secretly we all enjoy seeing the underbelly of a city that someone else loves. It is like looking up a girls skirt... (well, sort of). I think some people should really chill and let other people voice their opinions of cities. Especially if those most offended in the recent debacle are those that lavishly heap superlative critique on most other cities, apart from their own.

And on that sanctimonious note here's something totally unrelated...

The new shopping centre in Hillcrest (still don't know its name) is opening on Thurs (even though it looks nowhere near ready). Dischem will be moving into the old Woolworths across the road - I think it's only their 2nd store in KZN. So now at the Old Main/Inanda Rd intersection there'll be a shopping centre on every corner. Seems a bit excessive to me but the suburb is going through a major boom at the moment.

^^ plus the other centre down the road... Its called Hillcrest Corner

as for the rest of your comments, rants, and utterly boring repetion fuelled only by snide remarks and constant "who can piss further attitudes"... BLAH.

No wonder we are such a fucked up country, cos almost everyone seems totally ignorant and steadfast in their blinded ways. EVERY city is totally fucked up in one way or the other. We are ALL rebuilding. Our municipal leaders focusing their attention on different areas, ones they feel are more pressing to their people. CT will do one thing, but ignore the homeless and less fortunate. Joburg will limply help the inner city yet continually sprawl too. Durban will build many more houses than other cities, but neglect certain tourist nodes.

These are all CHOICES that the cities make. We may be horrified with some, but at the end of the day each city has a different plan to better the lives of its people, a different route to get there. Some may fail, but thats life. We can all spot a MILLION problems with every single city...thats if we want to.

The only reason i started this attack on pule is because the same people continually make the same remarks with no justification and after awhile you question their intellect and purpose. If you all acted like Romansa and backed up your opinions then you would be worthy posters.

But please just look at your own problems too, we ALL have them

I read in the newspaper the other day that a possible solution to Eskom's looming problem on peak demand would be to split the country into 2 time zones. Gauteng, Mpumalanga and KZN in the one and the rest 1 hour behind in the other. By lenghtening the peak - total demand will be reduced.

We've all heard the debate for daylight saving but now that its not Durban's lone voice in the wilderness maybe something will be done. I remember when I used to live in Durbs we could go play golf at 5am in summer before varsity. Just imagine if the extra hours were tacked on the end of the day and not the beginning when normal people are trying to sleep.

OK now its enough guys, NO MORE RUBBISH ON THE STREETS POSTS or we shut this thread down.

Goodness me, but this discussion is getting out of hand... It seems that everyone wants to bash the other city by comparing the "rival's" worst part with their best parts? Guys, this discussion is quite useless. All of our city centres have problematic areas. Durban and Johannesburg have bigger challenges - bigger cbd's, more residential units etc. But there is a move forward. Last time I was on the marine parade guys were scrubbing the pavement! Now that is commitment. And in areas such as Braamfontein, SouthWest and retail districts in Jozi it is clean, even during peak foot traffic times! Ghandi square is virtually litter free (and I have been there a lot) even though thousands pass through this central bus nerve every day. Other areas are worse - esp bree street.

But we can't generalize. On to better discussions?

On a side note. In Jozi we seem quite used to being bashed by our "liberal" coastal countrymen. It is interesting that we tend to keep quiet (or try to at least) and dignified, realizing that jozi does not appeal to all (indeed, this whore is not everyone's cup of tea). But we made peace with the fact that other's will always label our city most dangerous, boring, mine-dumpy, bad-architectural, conservative, dirty blah blah. Some of us see her differently - and it is a matter of opinion. Now if someone notices a bit of dirt in your street - and mentions it, no need to crap yourself, is there? Come-on: secretly we all enjoy seeing the underbelly of a city that someone else loves. It is like looking up a girls skirt... (well, sort of). I think some people should really chill and let other people voice their opinions of cities. Especially if those most offended in the recent debacle are those that lavishly heap superlative critique on most other cities, apart from their own.


Well said Jacko and I guess the discussion was not about certain individuals but the fact thath our municipalities need a wake up call so that they can make cleanliness and security their priority. If the city is clean and safe people will really see the negetive of it. One thing we all want is to walk freely anytime on the clean pavements.

Thanks all for participating in the discussion even though its sad that some of us take it personally instead of eye opening. We are all South Africans and we all would like to see our cities, towns, townhsips etc being safe havens for all of us.

Day light saving, sounds like a good idea. Was reading through Eskoms Hydro scheme up in the berg, the one they built ages ago. Its quite a complex system & I am surprised something of that nature was built a good 20 years ago. I think Hydro power is the way to go in KZN, whilst PBMR might be the future, all city's maybe not need a time bomb on their door step.

the ESKOm scheme is amazing. I went in there about 20 years ago on a school tour. you go down 200m into the main turbine hall and there are the biggest farking turbines you have ever seen.
So clever the scheme is as the let water fall from the fr4eesate dam during the day thereby producing electricty and it fills up the natal dam. Then at night when elec is in less demand and therefore cheeper they pump the water back up to the freestate. Same water just keeps going up and down day and night

^^I know, & I got the blueprints for it! its amazing! the shaft that the turbine sits in is mind blowing! & to think they coverd everything up so well, that if you hiking in the area, you will have no f*cking clue whats underneath you! What statistic I found surprising is that this scheme supplies 54% of the water for the vaal, which gets pumper into the tugela & flows upwards & feeds into the many water route enventualy ending up in the Vaal dam.

Kzn's Phoenix Rises - 2007/05/30


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Mahatma Gandhi's arrival in South Africa in 1893 led to the establishment of a spiritual settlement in Phoenix, KwaZulu-Natal, that is now in the process of being restored – as are many of the area's once council-owned homes.

According to Bryan Chetty, principal and franchise owner of ProProp Phoenix, the area, which lies on the KZN coastline between the Umdloti and Tugela rivers, is a sought-after destination by first-time and middle-income buyers whose affordability levels range from R180k to around R550k.

From an entry-level perspective, it's one of the few remaining suburbs in KwaZulu-Natal where brick and mortar homes can still be purchased for under R200k, he says. These dwellings tend to be two bedroom flats originally constructed and owned by the Durban Council for indentured Indian labourers who began arriving in the 19th century. Now available for purchase, they are being bought and upgraded by increasingly house-proud residents, he says.

Defined by an abundance of architecturally stunning mosques, colourful temples, vibrant festivals, exotic food and dance, Phoenix defines the religious and cultural legacies of hundreds of thousands of South Africans of Indian origin, says Tourism KwaZulu-Natal corporate affairs manager Lauren Kolia. She adds that South Africa and KwaZulu-Natal in particular, has the largest concentration of Indian descendents outside the Asian-subcontinent.

Demand is also high for two bedroom townhouses ranging in price from R320k to R370k, continues Chetty. Those with R370k to R500k to spend tend to want freestanding houses while buyers in the R500k plus category often widen their search areas to include Greenwood Park, Effingham and Verulam.

Demand for entry and middle income homes is far outstripping supply, says Mike Reddy of Maxprop Phoenix. That's despite the construction of about 1000 entry level homes by Woodglaze Trading, which Reddy says has been fortunate enough to have secured large but rare tracts of Council-owned land for residential development. With little land left to develop in and around Phoenix, the company is sitting with around 7 000 applications for homes, Reddy continues, a clear illustration of the pressing need for accommodation.

As a result of both unflagging demand for housing and its prime location, it's his belief that Phoenix is well on its way to shrugging off its mantle as an entry level area. Low income buyers are moving their searches for homes to the so-called townships, he says, leaving those with more spending power to shop in Phoenix. "Phoenix not only offers value for money real estate but also prime positioning for people commuting to work in Gateway, Durban, Pinetown and Mobeni," he says. "In addition, Phoenix sits on the doorstep of every possible modern amenity, from top schools to medical and shopping centres." – Ingrid Smit

Removed, thanks Gerg.

^^ This has absolutely nothing to do with Durban. Please post in correct thread.

This is getting more and more crazy everyday. Evidence suggests that in an ANC majority democracy all dissent will be made off as being anti-transformation or rascist!

'DA, IFP anti-transformation'

May 30 2007 at 04:51AM

By Matthew Savides

The street-renaming debate in Durban degenerated into chaos at an eThekwini Council meeting on Tuesday when an opposition party demand that the process be sent "back to the drawing board" was rejected.

In the fracas, the IFP members walked out and the party was, along with the DA, accused of being "anti-transformation" by the ANC-dominated council. The DA was also accused of being racist.

Speaker James Nxumalo was forced to bring the meeting to order several times.

Opposition parties lambasted the street renaming process, saying not all those affected had been consulted.

The process had apparently gone through ward committees, but the opposition said no such committees existed when the process was started in 2001.





They said each individual affected should have been directly notified so that proper consultation could have taken place.

Because of these apparent flaws, the process should be scratched and reviewed. This would result in a proper framework and clearly set out rules and regulations, and would mean all affected communities and individuals would be involved.

When the matter was put to vote, the ANC - an overwhelming majority - voted against it and it was not carried.

Should the proposal have been accepted, the entire process, which would include the 10 names already changed, would have been affected.

Before the vote, and amid trading of insults and accusations between the ANC and the IFP, the IFP members stormed out of the meeting.

In a second vote on the renaming issue, the council voted that certain policy changes be adopted, including that proposals for new names be allowed until June 23.

DA caucus leader John Steenhuisen said the ANC had missed a chance to be consultative and transparent. IFP councillor Gladwin Ndlela criticised the process as "flawed" from the start.

"There should have been wide consultation with affected parties. This should not have been a top-down policy, as we have seen it to be."

ANC caucus leader S'bu Sibiya accused the DA and IFP of being against transformation.

Durban has won the bid to host the African Investment Forum beating Johannesburg and Mauritius. Delegates to the event will include around 400 government ministers from Commonwealth countries across the globe. Being held on 13-14 September. There's a big article about it in today's Mercury.

so any thing anti ANC must be racist??? I like the communist inspired thought process

They is building the stadia!! or upgrading at least. R134 million is a bit stingy considering what other major cities are spending.

Facelift for local stadiums

By Matthew Savides

The eThekwini Municipality is to spend more than R134 million revamping three of Durban's soccer stadiums to be used as practice facilities during the 2010 World Cup.

At a council meeting on Tuesday, Municipal Manager Michael Sutcliffe said the city would upgrade the Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu, the King Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi and the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Clermont. After the tournament the stadiums would be given to local teams for use as their home grounds.

"These stadiums are all going to be built up to Premier Soccer League standards, and will be part of the legacy left after the World Cup," Sutcliffe said.

Discussions were under way between the city and soccer's executive body, Fifa, for two stadiums elsewhere in the province to be used.

According to Fifa regulations, the training grounds must be in the same area as the main stadium, but the city plans to ask Fifa to consider the other stadiums so more areas can benefit.

The two stadiums are in Richards Bay and Pietermaritzburg. Should they not be accepted, two other stadiums in the city would be considered. A total of R134,5-million had been budgeted for this project.

The final decision on which venues would be accepted as official training grounds would only be decided in 2009, Sutcliffe said. However, the building would take place beforehand.

The revamp was expected to boost development in the areas in which the stadiums were located and to help local teams that struggled financially.

Mato Madlala, Chairman of Lamontville-based Golden Arrows, said the announcement was "well overdue".

She said it was important to give supporters a good experience at matches, but this was difficult when the facilities were not up to scratch.

She said broken toilets, lack of facilities for children and a lack of parking characterised many of the community stadiums.

If the teams were given the use of the revamped stadiums, they could cater for fans and their families and make their experience one to remember. This would encourage people to return, which would boost support for local teams.

matthew.savides@inl.co.za



* This article was originally published on page 3 of The Mercury on May 30, 2007

Mercury new

Published on the Web by IOL on 2007-05-30 04:51:00
© Independent Online 2005. All rights reserved. IOL publishes this article in good faith but is not liable for any loss or damage caused by reliance on the information it contains.

High-Rise Homes for Durban’s High Fliers
30 May 2007 - Aengus Property Holdings -

Intro
In what is believed to be a first for Durban, a high-rise Berea office building has been converted into stylish residential apartments to provide a much-needed boost for the affordable accommodation market

Following their sell-out success with similar high-rise conversions in Johannesburg’s city centre, Aengus Lifestyle Properties has entered the Durban property scene with the transformation of the landmark 14-floor Berea Centre into 133 contemporary-styled bachelor and studio loft apartments.

Richard Rubin, MD of Aengus Lifestyle Properties and a Durbanite himself, says the properties, which are available to rent or to purchase, bring a new concept of urban community living to the city.

The 130 top-end apartments and three glass-fronted penthouses are perched atop 21 877m2 of retail space, which is currently being refurbished to the tune of R40m by the building’s owners, JSE-listed ApexHi Properties. The upgrade will be completed by the end of June 2007 and has attracted an exciting tenant mix including a number of national retailers such as Pick ‘n Pay, Woolworths and Mr Price plus 40 specialist stores.

“The Berea Lofts is based on the European concept of having residential accommodation above commercial interests,” Rubin added. “Residents not only have direct access to a huge variety of amenities, but they are also within a stone’s throw of major bus and taxi routes and a two-minute walk to the CBD. With this combination, I believe that the Berea Lofts will serve its tenancy better than any of our previous buildings.”

Priced from around R250 000, the lofts are designed to appeal to the growing number of middle-income earners who desire a sophisticated, secure lifestyle. The apartments all have spectacular views of the sea and the suburbs and have been finished to exacting standards, including hobs, insulated walling, 24 hour security, biometric access control and DSTV.

“A key advantage,” continues Rubin’s partner Gavin Meskin, Managing Director of Aengus Property Management, “will be the ongoing management of the building. As is the case with our successful Johannesburg properties, the Berea Lofts will be managed by Aengus Property Management (APM) which has a proven track record which includes managing its properties at 100% tenancy with waiting lists, zero arrears and control of the bodies corporate.

“Many bodies corporate under-budget and hence their buildings fail,” said Gavin Meskin, MD of APM. “Because we have a vested interest in our buildings, we ensure that levies are paid and that the building is managed within our policy of a generous 40% ratio of income to expenses. We want our community to enjoy a top level lifestyle at an affordable price.”

Aengus’ Lifestyle Card and its popular Loft in a Box furniture package will also be introduced with the launch of the Berea Lofts. The Lifestyle card offers residents discounts from local suppliers such as the gym, DVD store and beauty salons while the Loft in a Box provides customers with top quality, custom-designed furniture and accessories at wholesale prices.

“The furniture has been specially designed to complement the contemporary look and feel of the interiors and to optimise the space available,” said Loft in a Box GM Dean Solomon. “It’s a unique concept that enables residents to furnish an entire apartment in one go, and is available to the wider public, not just Aengus residents. Furniture is available in various colour schemes and styles.”

Rubin believes the Durban property market is ripe for the creation of what he terms ‘lifestyle precincts’ which attract commercial and residential interests that share a common theme into a designated area. He said Aengus was aggressively looking for stock, either office blocks to convert or distressed residential accommodation to upgrade.

“Our model has proved its worth,” he said, ‘and we believe there is huge upside potential for investors in and around Durban. As an indicator of the growth potential of the area, ApexHi believes that its investment in the Berea Centre should deliver a return in excess of 13% and stimulate foot traffic in excess of 600 000 per month.”


http://www.eprop.co.za/news/article.aspx?idArticle=8875

This is getting more and more crazy everyday. Evidence suggests that in an ANC majority democracy all dissent will be made off as being anti-transformation or rascist!

'DA, IFP anti-transformation'

I think Durban needs an opposition multi-party coalition government like Cape Town. Maybe that will happen in the next council elections in 2011. So vote IFP then. I'm sick and tired of the ANC using the race card every time someone doesn't like what it does in government.

Durban Beach Festival

Even more spectacular Durban Beach Festival – It's Happening!

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 27 May, 2007 : - - The Durban beachfront will be alive with action when an even more spectacular Durban Beach Festival lights up the Golden Mile from June 29 to July 8. From New Pier to Snake Park the beaches will be buzzing with fashion events, music concerts, surfing, bodyboarding, volleyball, up-market dining areas and fun beach events designed to appeal to the whole family. 2007 sees the introduction of fresh activities and loads more fun.

"We are really excited about the whole winter season planned for Durban; finally people from around the country recognize that our city is the place to be during the cold months. We are especially happy to present the Durban Beach Festival as the cornerstone event for the winter season.

With over 700 000 people attending last year, we aim to break that record. So whether you are an avid sports enthusiast or you simply want to bake in the sun and enjoy the surf, the Durban Beach Festival promises to cater to your every need." said Lindiwe Mahlangu, Head of Durban Africa. Festivities will get underway by 09h00 daily and will continue until well after dark.

The 2007 Durban Beach Festival line up caters not only for sports lovers but also for more sophisticated tastes with the inclusion of the Al Fresco Dining areas on the Bay, North Beach and New Pier beaches.

Beachgoers can look forward to a feast of the senses whilst browsing through the retail cabins and the eclectic mix of goods on offer. This year the retail cabins will be conveniently grouped at the Amphitheatre. The slogan "Durban's Hot with so much to do…." will be a real experience as dry weather with temperatures soaring into the 30's is forecast for this glorious July season.

The Durban Beach Festival joins a spectacular world-class events line up for the city in 2007 reinforcing Durban's reputation for being Africa's sporting and events capital. SABC has once again come on board as the media partner for the Durban Beach Festival and will be taking the event to the ears and screens of viewers countrywide over all 10 days.

Since the programme is currently in the process of being finalised, watch the website for regular updates online.

www.durbanbeachfestival.co.za

http://www.globalsurfnews.com/news.asp?Id_news=28107

1. Southern Sun Elangeni - **** - 450 rooms - Built 1971,1973
2. Garden Court South Beach - *** - 411 rooms - Built 1972
3. Garden Court Marine Parade - *** - 344 rooms - Built 1985
4. Durban Hilton - ***** - 327 rooms - Built 1997
5. Southern Sun North Beach - *** - 280 rooms - Built 1978
6. Royal Hotel - ***** - 272 rooms - Built 1979
7. Umhlanga Sands - *** - 237 rooms - Built 1977
8. Cabana Beach - *** - 218 rooms - Built 1976
9. Suncoast Hotel - ***** - 180 rooms - Built 2006
10. Riverside Hotel - **** - 175 rooms - Built 1998

I seem to recall that the Berea Centre was converted from flats to offices in the 90's,? smart move to capitalise on the demand for peri urban mixed use accomodation.

well it is a short walk from DUT, so will perfectly suit the student demand. and the revamped berea centre is well overdue