By Nangamso Mabindla

Buffalo City's R1-billion Mdantsane Urban Renewal Programme moves on to centre stage with the launch of a new logo today.

Councillor Sizwe Dikimolo said yesterday that the occasion, to be held at the Mdantsane Indoor Sports Centre, would be "very special for him as he grew up the impoverished township."

He said he had recently attended the South African Cities Network conference where he was exposed to the latest research on international urban renewal and an assessment of the South African situation. "When I looked at that … I realised we were on the right track," Councillor Dikimolo said.

Dikimolo said the urban renewal programme would change how people viewed Mdantsane, with the logo acting as a tool in part of this change.

The final logo design was selected from a number submitted by students at the Buffalo City Further Education and Training College in East London. "I would like to commend the college students for taking time to use their creative juices and try to incorporate Mdantsane into visuals," Dikimolo said.

The winner, who will be awarded R2 000, will be named at the launch.