Cape Town and the city of Portsmouth in southern England have entered into discussions around the potential for establishing a formal sister city link.
The City of Cape Town has already entered into nearly 20 sister city partnership agreements linking it to Dubai, Rio de Janeiro, Munich, and Monterry, among others.
A key reason for this proposal is that South Africa is already Britain’s largest trade partner on the African continent.
According to Portsmouth’s proposal, establishing a new link with a Commonwealth country beyond Europe would balance out any short-term trade challenges the city might face as a result of Brexit. while increasing trade between the two cities.
“Historically we have had a focus on working with European countries and establishing a new link with Cape Town … would support new relationships, encourage business growth through partnership routes and ensure our city links reflect Portsmouth and the university’s communities of growing diversity.”
The proposal was officially tabled before the Portsmouth City Council in early November, asking for the council’s leader and the Lord Mayor to write a joint letter to the City of Cape Town’s Mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis.
Another key reason supporting the proposed link is the rich naval histories shared between the cities of Portsmouth and Cape Town.
“The Royal Navy has a long history with Cape Town and is still a regular port of call to conduct maintenance, stores, personnel transfers and R&R,” added the proposal.
Two of these links include being the home of their country’s naval museums and the modelling of Gunwarf Quays on the V&A Waterfront.
Amidst a number of historical maritime links, the proposal mentioned the SS Mendi, a passenger steamship transporting over 800 black South African Native Labour Corps members that was accidentally rammed by a cargo ship in 1917.
More than 600 men died in the sinking steamship.
“In South Africa, commemorations of the SS Mendi were discouraged by white led governments creating a symbol of racial injustice. However a plaque was unveiled in Portsmouth in 2017, commemorating 100 years since the tragic event and services have been held allowing the families of the South African soldiers to pay tribute.”
If the city of Portsmouth has its way, Cape Town may soon have its first sister city in the United Kingdom. In return, Portsmouth will have its first sister city on the African continent.
Also read:
Picture: Unsplash