The KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Nomusa Dube-Ncube has sent condolences to the Chinese city of Qingdao where an oil pipeline blast killed 52 people last Friday as the city's officials prepared for the BRICS Urbanisation Forum which begins in Durban tomorrow.
The port city of Qingdao is one of the many cities that have confirmed their participation in the BRICS friendship cities and Urbanisation Forum taking place in Durban from 26 to 29 November 2013.
In her message to the Mayor of Qindao Dube-Ncube said "As a department whose mandate includes disaster management, we feel for our colleagues in Qingdao as they deal with the aftermath of the deadly explosion which has to date claimed 52 lives and caused enormous damage to infrastructure".
Eleven people remained missing as rain, debris and the possibility of explosive vapours hindered the rescuers' search for survivors around the oil pipeline in Qingdao that exploded last Friday morning, lifting roads and levelling buildings. More than 130 people are now in hospital.
"The BRICS Urbanisation Forum where cities from the BRICS order of countries will exchange ideas and best practices on sustainable urbanisation will address, among other things, issues of safety at industrial sites which last week's blast in Qingdao made all the more pertinent," said Dube-Ncube.
Qingdao's delegation is set to make a presentation on building productive and sustainable urban economies at the Urbanisation Forum where Durban will also host delegations from the twin BRICS cities of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), St Petersburg (Russia) and Mumbai (India).
"As we extend our condolences to our partners from Qingdao, we also hope to exchange with them our own insights from the rescue operation in Tongaat where COGTA's disaster management team intervened last week as well as northern KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) where the department recently assisted victims of storms," Dube-Ncube concluded.
Programme for the BRICS Cities Summit
Tuesday, 26 November 2013: Reception of all delegates by the City of Durban @ 18h00pm.
Wednesday, 27 November 2013: Official opening of the Brics cities forum from 9H00am, followed by the Media Briefing at 12pm. After lunch there will be key messages from member countries.
Thursday 28 November 2013: Strategic presentation on key areas and trends, this will also feature signing of strategic agreements.
Presentation of resolutions an handover to the next host city in 2014.
Members of the media are reminded of the importance of being accredited to participate at the summit.
For more information contact:
Lennox Mabaso
Cell: 082 884 2403
