William Nicol Drive was officially renamed to Winnie Mandela Drive on Tuesday 26 September. Photo: Michel Bega/The Citizen
MMC for transport in the City of Joburg Kenny Kunene has vowed to remove all the names of apartheid “oppressors” from streets across the city.
Kunene made the remarks during the official renaming of William Nicol Drive to Winnie Mandela Drive on Tuesday.
William Nicol was one of the founding members of the Broederbond and its second chairman – a white nationalist organisation credited with the formulation of apartheid.
Kunene said the city “cannot be apologetic about the renaming of our streets”.
“Many of them must [be removed]. We are going to remove and we must remove … all the names of the oppressors from our streets.
“The Louis Bothas must go, the Hendrik Potgieter, Hendrik Verwoerd all of them must go. We are the only country that allow ourselves to be traumatised everywhere we drive when we have to direct people. I get angry every time I have to tell somebody that I am on Louis Botha or Hendrik Verwoerd. We have political power, let us exercise it, let us not be apologetic,” Kunene said.
Joburg mayor Kabelo Gwamanda echoed Kunene’s sentiments saying the renaming of William Nicol was a “step towards dismantling the symbols and remnants of oppression and subjugation”.
ALSO READ: Zoleka Mandela: Madiba’s granddaughter loses brave battle against cancer
Gwamanda described Winnie Mandela as a woman who was dedicated to overcoming any challenges that she was confronted with.
“This symbol marks not just the life of a heroine, but a beacon by which our history was defined. It is however in my view that South Africa was denied an opportunity for a female president of the continent.”
Meanwhile, the ceremony was filled with an atmosphere of sadness after the news of the death of Nelson and Winnie Mandela’s granddaughter, Zoleka. who died of cancer.
The author and activist passed away on Monday evening surrounded by friends and family. Tuesday would also have been the birthday of her grandmother Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.
ALSO READ: William Nicol’s name on road signs not worth a dime
Download our app and read this and other great stories on the move. Available for Android and iOS.