Cape Town could potentially become “sister city” of Portsmouth, UK

Posted by Jordyn Johnson on 14 November 2022

Cape Town and Portsmouth, a city in the United Kingdom, have entered into discussions regarding potentially ‘establishing a formal sister city link,’ reports Cape{Town}etc.

Establishing a sister city means that a long-term link is formed ‘either legally or through a social agreement’ to encourage exchanges culturally and commercially. It is made to strengthen the bond between two cities, and commit to supporting each other when required.

Becoming sister cities is beneficial for each city as it encourages ‘business, tourism and trade, and more investment in the local economy,’ explains True Education Partnership.

Cape Town has nearly 20 sister city links with several African countries, as well as Dubai, Rio de Janeiro, Munich, and Monterrey, to name a few. The Portsmouth link would be Cape Town’s first sister city in the United Kingdom, and Cape Town would be the UK’s first African sister city.

One of the key reasons for this proposal is that Britain wants commonwealth links with countries outside of Europe after Brexit.

‘Establishing a new link with a Commonwealth country in a post-Brexit period would help to balance out any challenges with European trade in the short term,’ the proposal addressed, ‘adding that South Africa was already Britain’s largest trade partner on the African continent,’ states Business Insider.

The city of Portsmouth.

Another reason for the proposed link is because ‘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.’

Cape Town houses Britain’s naval museums and the ‘modelling of Gunwharf Quays on the V&A Waterfront’.

Furthermore, the proposal mentions the SS Mendi, which was a passenger steamship that transported over 800 ‘South African Native Labour Corps to the Western Front to assist the Allied Forces when it was accidentally rammed by a cargo ship in 1917.’

Approximately 600 men died, ‘making it the worst maritime disaster during the war in British waters,’ as reported by Business Insider. ‘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.’

Pictures: Unsplash

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