Today, on 26 September, in a significant move to enhance its status as a prominent learning city, the Mayor of eThekwini, Cyril Xaba, announced the renewal of a landmark Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) within universities in the City of EThekwini and one from the Western Cape. The event, held at City Hall, emphasises the city’s ongoing commitment to fostering evidence-based research, innovation, and inclusive development.
Originally established in 2011, this collaboration has served as a model for city-university partnerships nationwide, focusing on enhancing municipal capacity, advancing research, and promoting socioeconomic growth. During the signing ceremony, Mayor Xaba expressed pride in the partnership’s achievements, stating, “This partnership has made Durban a great city to work and play. Through this renewed 3-year agreement, we continue to position eThekwini as a future-ready metro, guided by research, innovation, and inclusive development.”
The ceremony featured two main segments: the symbolic signing of the MOA by Mayor Xaba alongside vice-chancellors from participating universities—including Prof Chithoogun from UKZN, Prof Sibiya from MUT, Prof Phfulu Nemavhola from DUT, and Prof Sibu Moyo from Stellenbosch University—and a celebration of academic excellence that honoured four recent PhD graduates. These new scholars are part of a cohort of 53 PhD holders currently enhancing the workforce within eThekwini, contributing to the city’s status as home to the highest number of doctoral-level employees within any South African municipality. To date, around 1,700 city staff members have graduated from partner institutions, demonstrating the initiative’s impact on capacity building.
Key objectives of the renewed MOA include strengthening the city’s use as a research environment, co-creating evidence-based policies, embedding city officials as guest lecturers in academic programs, and enabling young graduates to gain practical experience within the municipality. Mayor Xaba emphasised, “This agreement allows knowledge to flow between the city and academia, building mutual capacity.”
Prof Mpilo Ngubane, who heads the city’s education and skills development strategy, highlighted eThekwini’s recognition as a UNESCO Learning City in 2022—the only such designation in the Southern African Development Community (SADC). He urged continued collaboration between the universities and the city to maintain this prestigious status.
As part of the renewed agreement, two new governance structures will be established: a Research and Operations Committee and a Governance and Steering Committee, with representatives from each academic institution nominated to oversee implementation.
Prof Chithoogun from UKZN remarked on the importance of collaboration, stating, “Universities are not ivory towers—we are embedded partners. Together, we are shaping the future of eThekwini by creating jobs, training the next generation of skills, and advancing the city’s competitiveness as a tourism and innovation hub.”
The event garnered international attention, with delegates from Botswana participating to learn from eThekwini’s successful model, which could be potentially replicated in their municipalities.
In a reflection on the impact of this partnership over the past 15 years, Mayor Xaba reiterated the city’s long-term vision: “As we work towards Vision 2060, this agreement reflects our shared intent to improve the lives of the communities we serve. Together with our academic partners, we will continue to develop policy-driven research and co-create solutions that benefit not only eThekwini but the entire continent.” eThekwini – but the entire continent.”