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A Desire To Host A Successful 2010 World Cup22 August, 2008 Story Written By Siyabonga Maphumulo It's been said that politics makes strange bedfellows – a desire to host a successful 2010 World Cup and to inspire confidence about the event abroad could also have the same effect. At the best of times, City Manager Michael Sutcliffe and DA caucus leader Cllr John Steenhuisen have a difficult time finding common ground on quite a few issues. But the pair found ample reason to put aside their differences when they recently hosted a delegation of visiting American Councillors. The group had come to South Africa to learn about the country’s system of governance at local level, development and service delivery initiatives, and its World Cup preparations. And, in a manner quite different from the meetings in which both men so often find reason to altercate, the two had to explain at length about the City’s safety plans for 2010, the delivery of services, transport and how the City was governed.It was also one of those rare moments when a leader of the opposition party compliments the ruling party. “Like any political system, there is political posturing in eThekwini, but we are the only metro in the country to have a multi-party Executive Committee which is healthy for democracy,” said Steenhuisen. “And credit must go to the ANC, who are in majority, for that,” he said. Sutcliffe, while conceding it was not always smooth sailing in Council, said the city had a strategy to implement some ambitious projects including the Moses Mabhida stadium and the revival of Warwick triangle. The delegates were curious to know about what plans were in place to ensure the safety of visitors in 2010.“While policing is not a local government competency, the City’s Metro Police are recruiting trainees in readiness for 2010,” said Steenhuisen. He assured the Americans of the commitment of all spheres of government to ensuring a successful 2010. maphumulosiya@durban.gov.za |
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