‘Ordinary people doing some extraordinary things’
Social cohesion is a thread that runs through all the organisation's programmes.
The Port Shepstone Twinning Association, a voluntary, non-profit organisation turned 25 years and hosted a grand celebration at the Port Shepstone Civic Centre recently.
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The organisation’s chairman Thulas Mkhize said this is a historic milestone for the organisation. “We salute all members both past and present, and the wider community that has selflessly engaged in our programmes. We would not have achieved the goals of the organisation without the efforts of ordinary people doing extraordinary things,” he said.
Tormod Nesset, the founder of the programme in Sweden was the guest speaker along with other dignitaries. He said during pre-democracy, South Africa was plagued by violence of which Port Shepstone was one of the towns deeply affected. “In 1994 an Oskarshamn delegation from Sweden arrived in South Africa to explore the need for a continued relationship and so the Port Shepstone Twinning committee came into being,” said Mr Nesset.
He added that in 1995, the first South African delegation of eight community leaders travelled to Oskarshamn and cemented the foundation for a continued friendship. “This spread of eight-people delegations continued twice a year from Oskarshamn to Port Shepstone and vice-versa from 1996 to 2005. Since that time, approximately 222 people have travelled to Sweden on various projects.”
Port Shepstone Twinning Association’s president Gulshera Khan said social cohesion is a thread that runs through all the organisation’s programmes. “The twinning programmes are unique, intense and underpinned by feelings of mutual respect and international solidarity,” she said.
“Some of the major achievements of the organisation thus far are job creation opportunities for 120 people, research of local heritage sites, hosting of two national conferences, and being part of the national task team in hosting an international conference in 2018.”
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