City partners with the Sharks
The municipality believes forming a partnership with the Sharks will assist in marketing the City abroad.
EXCO has mandated the City Manager to negotiate and conclude an agreement with the KZN Rugby Union for a mutually beneficial partnership with Durban-based rugby franchise, The Sharks.
Sbu Sithole said the partnership emanated from engagements that have taken place between the City and the Sharks regarding cooperation in marketing Durban.
“The Sharks are a well-established brand and forming a strategic partnership with them will assist in our efforts to market the City especially abroad. It is part of our strategy to attract more tourists to the City,” he said.
Part of the partnership includes support for the City to bid for the hosting of an international rugby match between the Springboks and the All Blacks of New Zealand in August 2015.
“At this stage we do not know how much it would cost to host such a game, but we will come back with a report to EXCO once financial implications are clear. As the City, it is important to partner with rugby, but we want to extend this to other sporting codes that can assist in marketing our City,” said Sithole.
