The City of Johannesburg (CoJ) announced it is planning to rename four roads within in jurisdiction in terms of its approved Policy on the Naming of Streets and Other Public Places.
MMC for Community Development, Kabelo Gwamanda, has invited the public to participate in the renaming process.
The roads up for renaming include De Beer Street, Nikkel Crescent, Main Street, and Sandton Drive.
De Beer Street to Mthokozisi Ntumba Street
The CoJ intends to convert De Beer Street to Mthokozisi Ntumba Street to honour Mthokozisi Ntumba, who was tragically killed outside Wits University in 2021 during a protest over high fees.
The road is located in Braamfontein.
Main Street to Don Mattera Street
Don Mattera was a South African poet, activist, and author, with the planned renaming of Main Street to Don Mattera Street seeking to “recognise his immense contribution to literate and the anti-apartheid movement,” said the CoJ.
Main Street is situated in the Johannesburg CBD.
Nikkel Crescent to Nathanial Julies Crescent
Nikkel Crescent’s retitling to Nathanial Julies Crescent aims to honour the memory of Julies and bring awareness to the need for justice and community safety in South Africa.
Nathanial Julies was a teenager with down syndrome who was tragically killed in Eldorado Park, Soweto, during a crossfire between the police and suspected gang members.
Sandton Drive to Leila Khalid Drive
The CoJ aims to rename Sandton Drive to Leila Khalid Drive to “celebrate her influence on global struggles for freedom by replacing symbols and names that reflect colonisation with those that represent restoration and renewal,” it said.
Khalid, who is still alive today, was a Palestinian activist and symbol of resistance in the 1970s and ’80s, being recognised as the first female to hijack an aeroplane.
This move has been criticised not only by the public but also by CoJ employees alike.
Kenny Kunene, PA deputy president and transport MMC in the Joburg metro, said that using Khalid’s name is an attempt to humiliate the United States (US) given the fact that the US consulate is situated on Sandton Drive and Khalid was part of an organisation which the Western nation deems a “terror group.”
This comes at a time when South Africa is fighting to retain its spot in the African Growth and Opportunity Act, which allows duty-free access to the US for local exporters with memberships set to be reviewed in 2025, Business Day reports.
In addition, CoJ ward councillor Martin Williams highlighted that the planned name change goes against several of the city’s rules and regulations, including a policy that states that naming public spaces after living people should be avoided because community attitudes and opinions can change over time.
Comments on the renaming can be directed to the CoJ’s Dominica Masalesa at [email protected].
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