The City of Cape Town celebrated Heritage Day by renaming NY1 in Gugulethu to Steve Biko Drive, to honour one of South Africa’s foremost struggle heroes. Executive Mayor Alderman Patricia de Lille, Premier of the Western Cape Helen Zille and the Biko family were present at the ceremony on 24 September 2012.
“This administration is committed to redress and reconciliation, and to honouring the heroes of our past and the sacrifices they made to realise a democratic South Africa. This is in keeping with our vision for Cape Town as a city which acknowledges our past and owns our future,” the Executive Mayor said.
She added that Biko’s Black Consciousness movement proved to be one of the turning points of the struggle against apartheid, as it inspired a generation of leaders and created the conditions for liberation.
“Like many great prophets telling difficult truths, Steve Biko was murdered for his ideas. He was murdered for the power of his revolution. But it lives on in us and this country.”
Biko’s sister Nobandile said the renaming ceremony was a timely tribute, coming just two weeks after the 35th anniversary of his death at the hands of the security police. She also spoke about the Gugulethu Seven, who were killed by security police in 1986, and called on the country’s leadership not to desert the youth.
She said she hoped that as people used the road, they would remember Biko’s example.
Premier Zille said it was fitting that NY1 was renamed after Biko, and that his ideas live on.
The road, which runs through Gugulethu, has a rich struggle history and was associated with Biko. Residents also remember it as a meeting place, as well as marching in the street and being sprayed with teargas.
The City also launched its Gugulethu “Name Your Hood” campaign, in which the public are invited to help change or name the streets of the suburb. This includes 91 NY street names, and eight “hoods” in Gugulethu.
“I ask the people of Gugulethu to help us build an inclusive city by embracing this process that recognises our common heritage… so we can build, brick by brick, a Cape Town of tomorrow that truly belongs to everyone,” De Lille said.
