The Centenary - A Class of Its Own in Durban

By Marlan Padayachee, Speechwriter to the Mayor of Durban, Obed Mlaba
Opening Address by His Worship, Councillor Obed Mlaba, the Mayor of the eThekwini Municipality, at the opening of the Centenary Umhlanga Ridge New Town Centre on Tuesday, 17 March 2009, at 17h00.
Thank You, Programme Director.
Good afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen, Distinguished Guests and Stakeholders.
Mr Carlos Correia, Chief Executive Officer of the Isolenu Group.
The representatives of Moreland and the Tongaat Huletts Group.
All Protocols Observed.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I stand before you as the Mayor of one of the fastest growing and developing cities in Africa.
In the past 15 years since the changing of the guard at the City Hall to what I believe is a truly progressive, people-centred and business-friendly city government, I have attended more sod-turning ceremonies and the opening of new buildings than before in my entire life.
This experience itself speaks for itself as far as how far we have come in our public-private sector partnership that was mooted by Nelson Mandela.
Each day, from the city’s skyline is changing.
Not in 15 years since we ushered democracy with a promise for a “Better Life for All”, I have not witnessed so many cranes dominating our skylines from Umbumbulu to Umhlanga.
From the pioneering development of Bridge City in the nearby Kwa Mashu/Ntuzuma Township to the Centenary in the New Town Centre in Umhlanga, the city’s landscape is undergoing phenomenal changes.
From the south to the north of the city’s coastal flanks leading up to the majestic development of the King Shaka International Airport and the Dube Tradeport, Durban is experiencing a real infrastructural and development boom for the first time in many decades.
The Centenary in the New Town Centre is now part of this exciting mix of socio-economic history that is taking place as central, provincial and municipal government work hand in hand to map out Durban’s 2020 Vision of creating a safer and sustainable city where all sectors of citizens, the rich and the poor, shall live and work in harmony in a changing society.
The versatility, style and modern design of the Centenary is an inspiring new asset to our city and our rapidly growing inner-city town centres such as the gilt-edged location of Umhlanga and its portfolio of big-brand businesses.
This evening, I wish to roundly congratulate the visionaries and developers of this magnificent project that has added new value to the city as we strive to put our best foot forward for the FIFA 2010 World Cup Soccer.
This project is the brainchild of a visionary company, Moreland and the Tongaat Huletts Group.
In years to come, the New Town Centre’s revolutionary design, functionality and affordability will be judged as one of the finest models for the future urban development planning in KwaZulu-Natal.
The Centenary’s form and beauty, aesthetically supplemented by a unique, bustling business environment and some of the finest residential developments and prestige golf estates, and encapsulating Old Mutual's extraordinary R1, 6 billion Gateway Theatre of Shopping, is certainly an attractive option for businesses looking for a world-class sectional title block.
While property developers and experts will agree with me that the concept of sectional title ownership has been foreign to our own investors.
Ladies and Gentlemen, once they view or hear about the Centenary, I am confident that local and foreign investors will snap up this popular option for sectional title office and industrial properties.
The answer is simple: This makes good business and economic sense because the cost is shared by all tenants.
Thank you, very much, for giving me and the eThekwini Municipality and opportunity to grace this opening ceremony and endorse this breathtaking project.
I extend our best wishes to the developers and tenants and may the Centenary stand out majestically in the sea of beauty and progress.
Finally, when the African National Congress says: “Working Together, We Can Do More” – we mean just that – May our public-private partnership continue in a spirit of trust and co-operation so that we can all deliver on the city’s 2020 vision to create jobs and provide a safer and sustainable city.
Kindly let me leave you with the words of wisdom from one of the world’s most daring entrepreneurs, Richard Branson who said:”Business opportunities are like buses, there's always another one coming.”
I Thank You.
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Speech researched and written for the Mayor’s Office, eThekwini Municipality, City of Durban, South Africa 13 March 2009 by GreenGold Africa Communiactions: Marlan Padayachee/Sally Nene/Amanda Cele/ greengold@telkomsa.net/ www.greengoldcom.com 0837961762/0837971762/0312661762/
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