The City of Cape Town has changed the name of Western Boulevard to Helen Suzman Boulevard, to honour the anti-apartheid stalwart.
The renaming was described by Executive Mayor Alderman Patricia de Lille as a “historic day for Cape Town”, and for all those who believe we should recognise the heroes from the past that allow us to enjoy the freedom and democracy we have in South Africa today.
The new road signs were unveiled on Monday 7 November 2011, on what would have been Suzman’s 94th birthday, and the ceremony was attended by her daughter Patricia, niece Janet, trustees of the Suzman Foundation and dignitaries, including the Premier of the Western Cape, Helen Zille. Jazz musician Tina Schoor played a tribute.
The Executive Mayor described how one of the cornerstones of the City of Cape Town’s policy of social redress and becoming an integrated city is changing the spatial environment in which we live, through changing the symbolism of public spaces and utilities.
“By changing the symbolism of different public spaces and utilities, we change the dynamic of this city to one that draws strength from our shared heritage.”
She added that the democratic values Helen Suzman stood for – justice, equal opportunity and human rights – “are the values we stand for in Cape Town”.
Suzman was for many years the lone voice in Parliament to oppose apartheid, and endured intimidation and many other challenges, but “she stood firm for what she believed in, which was an end to racially oppressive tyranny”.
De Lille said Suzman received many honorary degrees and prestige during her lifetime, and the City is fortunate to be able to honour her in this way.
“While she would not have sought such a public monument to her, the values she espoused and the struggle she fought belongs to all of us and it is only right that we should honour her.
“Today, we will have two major arteries linking East and West, the one honouring former president Mandela, the other honouring Helen Suzman. Meeting together, they represent the best values in all of us and remind us of what we are trying to achieve.
“Though she is not here to see this testament to her life, we honour Helen Suzman, through this road and the principles that inform our government,” the Executive Mayor said.
