“The  planning is over and we are in the final stages of implementation,” says eThekwini Mayor, Councillor James Nxumalo, with just days to go to the opening of the biggest conference ever held on the African continent, COP17/CMP7.  “We are in the process of meeting all the responsibilities expected of us as the Host City and are now getting ready to stand back, open our arms and welcome the world to Durban, Africa’s leader in the response to Climate Change.”

As the host city, Durban took up the challenge of hosting COP17 in such a way that delegates and visitors would leave the event updated and informed about Durban’s Greening Projects, as well as touched by its social and cultural wealth and natural beauty and its sustainable approach to City development.  In order to maximise the benefits (both economic and environmental) of hosting such an event, the full strength and capacity of the municipality has been brought together to run the event as efficiently as possible.

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8 November 2011 – The Shamwari Game Reserve situated in the Eastern Cape of South Africa is deeply saddened to announce that it has tragically lost an adult female rhino cow which was tranquillised and the horn gruesomely removed by poachers. A 22 month old bull calf was also tranquillised and his horn also removed but he was found and taken to the Animal Rehabilitation Centre. His horn was removed with minor damage to his face and Dr Johan Joubert is hopeful that he will recover. The calf also suffered an injured back leg which is carefully being monitored.

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 Table Mountain has been announced as one of the New7Wonders of Nature along with the Amazon, Halong Bay, Iguazu Falls, Jeju Island, Komodo and Puerto Princesa Underground River. In 2008, Table Mountain was identified as one of 440 magnificent natural sites selected by the New7Wonders Foundation to enter the three-phase New7Wonders of Nature contest. In the second phase, Table Mountain made the 77 site shortlist before being publicly voted onto a final shortlist of 28 sites in July 2009. Today Table Mountain was selected as one of the final seven. With this accolade, Table Mountain, Cape Town and South Africa can anticipate global attention.

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