SALGA and eThekwini Municipality assures safety and security during the UCLG World Summit

Posted: 16 September 2019

The South African Local Government Association (SALGA) and eThekwini municipality who are joint hosts of the World Summit of Local and Regional Leaders acknowledge recent media reports surrounding violent protest in and around South Africa. These protests are reportedly linked to attacks on foreign nationals.

While South African authorities are hard at work to restore peace, SALGA and eThekwini municipality would like to assure all delegates attending the World Summit of Local and Regional Leaders in Durban on 11 – 15 November 2019, that these actions will not interfere with the hosting of the Summit.

Every precaution has been taken to ensure the safety and security of delegates attending the summit in November.

SALGA, Civil Society, Business Industry and the entire Government of South Africa has since denounced the attacks and called for law enforcement agencies to arrest the situation, with immediate effect.

So far engagements with government, industry and consumer groups to intensify civic education work targeting residents of their constituencies in collaboration with civil society organisations to create conditions conducive to harmony are underway.

SALGA has called for affected municipalities to provide shelter and temporary accommodation to all affected parties.

The World Summit inspires local and regional leaders to define solutions to major challenges felt by local governments across the world. These leaders will present their cases, but importantly allow local and regional governments’ constituencies strategise on local contributions to global goals. As a nation rich with cultural diversity, we look forward to welcoming and hosting delegates to the warm and tropical shores of the Indian Ocean in eThekwini.