“Sister cities” are defined as two cities or towns in different countries that share a special relationship based on a formal agreement. Essentially, they are twinned with each other, a practice designed to foster social and cultural exchanges.
Here in South Africa, many of our illustrious cities have garnered “sisters” around the globe.
Let’s unravel these international family ties!
CELEBRATING SOUTH AFRICA’S SISTER CITIES
To start with, here we have:
BLOEMFONTEIN, FREE STATE
Bloemfontein is the sister of two prominent Asian cities: Bhubaneswar in India and Nanjing in China.
Bhubaneswar is an ancient city with its roots tracing back to the first century. It boasts over one thousand temples dedicated to the worship of Hindu gods and goddesses.
Nanjing is the capital of China’s Jiangsu province. It is home to Plum Blossom Hill, where you can see over 40 000 plum blossom trees burst into bloom during springtime. It’s no wonder it’s twinned with the City of Roses!
CAPE TOWN, WESTERN CAPE
The Mother City boasts a whopping 16 sisters. These include Accra in Ghana, Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, Malmö in Sweden, and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.
Most recently, Cape Town officially became the sister city of Nairobi in Kenya. Like its South African counterpart, Nairobi is a major tourism giant, renowned for its abundance of national parks, picturesque landscapes and amazing wildlife.
DURBAN, KWAZULU-NATAL
Durban follows behind with 15 sister cities, including Alexandria in Egypt, Kaohsiung in Taiwan, Chicago in the United States of America, and Libreville in Gabon.
Northern neighbour Maputo is also one of Durbs’ sisters. The coastal Mozambican city has become something of a tourist hotspot due to its historical sites, scenic beaches, seafood restaurants and animal safaris.
JOHANNESBURG, GAUTENG
Joburg has eight sister cities around the world. The most prominent of these are Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, New York City in the USA, and Verona in Italy.
Closer to home (sort of) is Windhoek, the capital of Namibia. It’s best known for its colonial German architecture, wildlife sanctuaries and walking tours that explore the city’s historic landmarks.
PRETORIA, GAUTENG
Pretoria is the sister of nine other cities, which include Bulawayo in Zimbabwe, Hanoi in Vietnam, and Washington, D.C. in the USA.
Among its siblings is Port Louis, the capital of Mauritius. It’s a city steeped in history, its colonial French roots evident in its architecture and many of its streets’ names. If you love exploring local markets, snorkelling or soaking up the sun on white sandy beaches, Port Louis is well worth the visit.
SISTER CITIES FOR THE WIN
South Africa’s sister city relationships are more than just formal partnerships. It’s a useful way to strengthen socio-cultural and economic connections between our country and locations worldwide.
Besides, it’s fun to see how the cities here match up to – or outdo, in some respects! – their overseas counterparts.
