The corner of Sandton Drive and another road that underwent a name change. Picture: Michel Bega
The Patriotic Alliance (PA) has pinned its colours to Sandton Drive’s mast.
A proposal is on the table calling for comment on the proposed renaming of the main road to Leila Khaled Drive.
Kenny Kunene on Friday released a statement explaining why his party was making the U-turn, having previously supported the motion.
Labelling the move “divisive” and “ill-advised”, the PA deputy stated that there many other South Africans who have sacrificed their lives for the betterment of the country.
ALSO READ: ‘Rename street for Leila Khaled’: Calls for Sandton Drive to have new name
He said the party appreciated the complexities of the Middle-Eastern conflict that Khaled has fought for, but that there were “no easy answers”.
“However, we also do not believe that it is wise or even moral to rename a South African road after a woman who was willing to kill innocent children, no matter how much anyone might say ‘But what about what so-and-so also did?’” stated Kunene.
Khaled hijacked a passenger flight in 1969 and repeated the act a year later. During the second attempt, she allegedly failed to detonate a bomb which would have killed everyone on board.
Sandton Drive is also home to the United States consulate and the renaming has been seen as a jab at the North American superpower.
The idea was proposed in 2018 when Herman Mashaba was mayor of Johannesburg under the Democratic Alliance (DA).
The PA state they will bring a motion to have the previous motion reversed, but added that should council wish to proceed with the renaming, they would respect the democratic process.
ALSO READ: More new street names: Sandton Drive next in line for renaming
“If it must be changed, rather carry the name of a true South African hero that we can – or at least should – all be proud of,” Kunene continued.
ActionSA last week stated their opposition to the renaming, saying Sandton Drive was a neutral and unifying name.
Johannesburg leader Funzi Ngobeni highlighted the city’s faulty streetlights and pothole-riddled streets as urgent priorities that need attention.
Ward 90 councillor Martin Williams has led a DA campaign to prevent the renaming, also highlighting the lack of service delivery throughout the areas around Sandton Drive.
NOW READ: Sandton Drive name change doesn’t promote goodwill
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