Durban Mayor Salutes Imagine Durban Team

Message from Political Leadership
By City of Durban Mayor
His Worship Councillor
Obed Mlaba

At the outset, I wish to acknowledge the work of the Imagine Durban team during its 2007-2009 term in raising the profile on the eThekwini Municipality’s commitment to current global issues such safer and sustainable cities, climate change, energy saving, conservation, environment and greenhouse gas emissions.

Spearheaded by the city’s Corporate Policy Unit, the roll-out of the Demonstration Project reached many communities and created enormous awareness on environmental issues in the urban and rural areas of the Greater Durban Region in the past two years.

Through our partnership with the Canadian International Development Agency, the eThekwini Municipality led a successful community-driven initiative on integrated, long-term planning for Durban. I am pleased that this project, implemented in conjunction with Sustainable Cities, a Non- Governmental Organisation from Vancouver, Canada, and the PLUS Network of 35 cities in 14 countries, provided Durban with an international platform of sharing experiences in sustainability planning and sustainable community development.
An added boost to the project was Durban’s hosting of a conference on Sustainable Cities in 2008. After South Africa hosted the first World Summit on Sustainability at the turn of the new century, Durban became one of the first global cities to have signed protocols on Sustainability and Climate Change.
As a progressive city, the political leadership and the municipal administration are guided by the city’s 2020 vision that reads: "By 2020, eThekwini Municipality will enjoy the reputation of being Africa’s most caring and liveable city, where all citizens live in harmony. This Vision will be achieved by growing its economy and meeting people’s needs so that all citizens enjoy a high quality of life with equal opportunities, in a city that they are truly proud of.”

As a city that cares for its citizens and the environment and that is why as a city government we remain committed to transforming Durban into a truly sustainable city by striving to achieve the following key focal areas and themes:

· Creating a safer city;
· Ensuring a more environmentally sustainable city;
· Promoting an accessible city;
· Creating a city where all enjoy sustainable livelihoods;
· Fostering a more caring and empowering city;
· Celebrating the city’s cultural diversity, history and heritage;
Through Durban’s Long Term Planning for City Sustainability, I am confident that the publication, The Power of Imagination, published by the Corporate Policy Unit, will chronicle the short history of the Imagine Durban project and bring to the public domain the 50 Lessons from Durban, South Africa.

May the “Imagine” concept continue to highlight Durban’s commitment to change ahead of the United Nations’ Climate Conference in Copenhagen in December 2009.
Hopefully, Africa’s contribution, concerns and perspectives to the governmental negotiations will lead to the formation of a continental network on environmental and Climate Change issues.

Message researched and written by Marlan Padayachee, Amanda Cele,Sally Nene, Sibusiso Ngema, all of GreenGold Africa Communications, on behalf of the Mayor’s Office, City of Durban, eThekwini Municipality, for the Durban’s Long-Term Planning for City Sustainability, Power of Imagination publication by the Corporate Policy Unit, 7 August 2009 / www.greengoldcom.com/ greengold@mtnloaded.co.za 083 796 1762/ 083 797 1762/ 031 266 0178, 266 5599 (telefax)