Royal Navy ship HMS Portland visits Durban, ahead of Capability Demonstration event

A Capability Demonstration has also been planned, to showcase the skills and efficiency of the Royal Navy servicemen.

Organisers of the gala event say it's significant, as it's the first time in a long while that a major Royal Navy ship of its kind has sailed to the east coast.

The ship is currently three-months into a nine-month deployment around the world - having set sail from Plymouth in the UK, in June.

She last docked in Cape Town in 2014.

Hooman Nouruzi, who's with the British High Commission in Pretoria, says the visit is also a demonstration of the ever-expanding relationship between South Africa and the United Kingdom.

"Particularity in Durban, it's significant because we want to expand our relationship with the city of Durban as you go towards Durban 2022 - the hosting of the Commonwealth Games. We feel as the UK we've got expertise in this area and we want to pass on that expertise and knowledge and support a real successful Games in Durban, the first time that I understand the Commonwealth Games is coming to Africa," he said.