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STREET RENAMING:JULIUS NYERERE IN PROFILEFeatures Page 6
METROe z a s e g a g a s i n i
KEYS TO NEWHOME FOR NEEDY FAMILYNews Page 2
News Page 4
Friday18 June 2010
Your FREE City paperwww.durban.gov.za
ROMITA HANUMAN
SUPPORTERS of Australia’sfootball team, the SocceroosFanatics hopped onto theInanda Heritage Route earlierthis week for a visit whichtook in the JL Dube Stadium,historic Ohlange High Schooland other landmarks of SouthAfrica’s freedom struggle.
The Fanatics also played afootball match against a sidefrom the school and the menfrom Down Under were ableto ease the pain somewhat oftheir national side’s defeat byGermany on Sunday, byshading the Inanda team 1-0.
Acting Chief Executive ofDurban Tourism, PhilipSithole, said, “We want tofurther expose the InandaHeritage Route, a nationalmonument, to the wholeworld.”
Sithole said Inanda
residents were proud theAustralians had chosen tospend the day in Inanda.
“The Australian Fanaticswere looking for places tovisit. One of the options wasInanda because of its greatheritage significance. Wemust not forget that formerPresident Nelson Mandelacast his first democratic votein Inanda. We are honouringliberation.”
Deputy Mayor LogieNaidoo welcomed the gueststo Inanda and said theMunicipality was excited theyhad chosen Durban as theirWorld Cup base. “It iswonderful to have theFanatics here, they havecertainly added much colourto our city. It is great news forDurban.”
Also present was CityManager Michael Sutcliffewho was delighted about the
Aussies’ visit. “There are twogreat aspects about this visit.It is a given that these guyswill go back to their country
and talk about theirexperiences. The second oneis the tourism aspect. Inandais a hugely historic area. It
boasts traditions of MahatmaGandhi and Mandela. Theworld needs to understand, itwasn’t just South Africa’sstruggle, but a worldstruggle.”
Eric Ngwenya, one of theInanda players who took onthe Fanatics, said, “The gamewas tough, but putting thataside, we are so excited thatthey are here. I have nevermet an Australian in my life, Iam very happy.”
Luke Bartolo, a SocceroosFanatics, said, “It feelsabsolutely amazing to be herein Durban. Everyone hasmade us feel so welcome.This is certainly the warmestplace to be!”
Australian Jarred Haynessaid, “I spent the day with thelocals. We have seen theculture, and we are glad to bepart of that.”
MACK MAKHATHINI and THEMBA KHUMALO
IF YOU were impressedby eThekwini’s metic-ulous preparation for lastweekend’s match bet-ween Germany and Aus-
tralia at the Moses Mabhida,you ain’t seen anything yet.
That’s the promise fromMayor Obed Mlaba.
While acknowledging thehard work that went intohosting the first World Cupmatch played at the newstadium, Mlaba said the bestwas yet to come.
“We had a huge success ineThekwini and the province,”said Mlaba, looking forward tothe high-profile draws still tobe played in the city.
The Mayor was also fulsomein his praise for the paradedown Dr Pixeley KaSeme(West) Street on Sunday,which brought the city centreto a standstill as Durbanitescelebrated in a carnival ofcolour before the match.
The parade, led by a Prov-incial and Municipal dele-gation started at the City Halland ended at the Fifa fan festat New Beach.
Among dignitaries aboardthe Rickshaw bus on the daywere KwaZulu-Natal Premier,
Dr Zweli Mkhize, Mlaba,Deputy Mayor Logie Naidooand MEC for Arts, Culture,Sport and Recreation, WeziweThusi.
Mlaba thanked Mkhize forinspiring the parade. “Thiswas the Premier’s idea. Hegave instruction that thisneeded to be done. We aregrateful because it gave us achance to show the world thatDurban is capable of holdingsuch an important event,” hesaid.
Mkhize said, “We want towish our guests a mostenjoyable tournament. Theymust feel at home. We wantthe fans to enjoy the game,because this is a celebration.”
The Mayor said everythingfrom the Municipality’s trans-port, safety and disaster man-agement plans and the fanparks had all gone smoothly.
“The citizens of eThekwinidid their city proud. All we askfor now is that we put moreeffort into making theremaining games even abigger success,” said Mlaba.
Besides hosting a semi-final,the Moses Mabhida Stadiumwill also be the place to catchsome of the biggest names inworld football, with the gamebetween Portugal and Brazilin Durban on 25 June among
the most eagerly anticipatedof the tournament.
Head of Strategic Projects ineThekwini, Julie-May Elling-son, said things had gonesmoothly on the first day.“There have been no issues.
After four years of prepara-tion, it’s hard to believe theevent is finally in the city.”
Ellingson said it was par-ticularly pleasing that eThek-wini’s preparations haddrawn praise from both local
and international people.Fans who travelled to the
stadium on buses and shuttleswere full of praise for the city’spublic transport system.
The Municipality has ashuttle service, which runs
every few minutes, trans-porting fans from the citycentre and shopping malls tothe stadium.
[email protected] World Cup reports and
pictures on Pages 4 and 5
CARNIVAL TIME: Unicyclist Velile Ncayiyana joined brass bands, drum majorettes, dancers, bikers, models andmembers of the Shembe Church for a city centre street parade on Sunday ahead of the opening World Cupgame at the Moses Mabhida Stadium Picture: THEMBA KHUMALO
G’day mate! Aussies visit Inanda
‘You ain’t seen nothing yet’ Mayor promises more Cup magicafter first match, parade hailed
FAN-TASTIC: City Manager Michael Sutcliffe andDeputy Mayor Logie Naidoo join Aussie supporters tocheer on a match in Inanda Picture: ROMITA HANUMAN
KHAYA SENGANI andROMITA HANUMAN
THE Umgeni River Bird Parkhas reopened to the publicand the Municipality ishoping residents and WorldCup visitors will flock to thepark – home to an impressivearray of indigenous andexotic birds, includingendangered species.
The park reopened lastweek and follows a decisionby the Council’s ExecutiveCommittee’s to save the parkafter its former ownersclosed it down in August lastyear, citing financialproblems. An upgrade andthe relocation of the birdsdelayed the opening.
[email protected]@durban.gov.za
See the next eZasegagasiniMetro for a full report
Bird parkreopens
Gogo football
