INTERNATIONAL delegates are overwhelmed by KwaZulu-Natal's hospitality.

Speaking shortly before his country trounced Spain in a major World Cup upset match, Swiss ambassador Rudolf Baerfuss sang the praises of the Zulu kingdom.

"I was here in March at the 100 days to go festivities and could not believe the transformation Durban has undergone," Baerfuss said.

"The city is a beautiful place to be and the office of the premier could not have gone to more trouble to make today a most memorable occasion for my wife and me.

Baerfuss' sentiments were echoed by Spanish minister of sports Jaime Lissavetzky Díez.

"I was fortunate to visit the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Tuesday, where the Spanish team was practising.

"It is perhaps the best stadium I have had the fortune to visit and my congratulations go to this iconic structure."

Díez said the hospitality from the city of Durban and its pleasant and welcoming people was a refreshing experience and he looked forward to returning in the future.

Provincial Premier Zweli Mkhize, who has been meeting with international visitors at special hosting programmes, regaled his guests with some anecdotes about the province's history.

"Not far from here, at a place called Inanda, Nelson Mandela cast his first vote marking South Africa's freedom," he said.

Winston Churchill was here as a journalist during the Boer War and India's Mahatma Gandhi spent time here as well.

"Napoleon Bonaparte was here before being imprisoned on St Helena.

A delighted Dieter Zettler, Germany's honorary representative in KZN, said: "I am totally impressed with the smooth way everything has progressed."