The City of Cape Town’s ad hoc Naming Committee yesterday, 18 July 2012, finalised a series of proposed new street names for consideration by the Executive Mayor, Alderman Patricia de Lille. This is part of the City’s commitment to building an Inclusive City based on a policy of redress that recognises and celebrates the true diversity of our collective heritage.
In an extensive public participation process earlier this year, the public was asked to comment on the proposed renaming of 24 streets, two civic centres and a footbridge. The results from this process formed the basis of today’s discussions.
“Today I was again encouraged by the constructive and cooperative spirit in which the committee carried out its work,” said the committee’s Chairperson and Mayoral Committee Member for Transport, Roads and Stormwater, Councillor Brett Herron.
“We have given this input from the public very serious consideration and have listened to the input received. As a result, in many instances, we have agreed to leave certain names unchanged. We received almost 19 000 comments, and are very grateful for the public’s engagement.
“We are determined that the renaming process is one that leads to an Inclusive Cape Town, and one that it is free of the divisions that have regrettably characterised similar processes in other metros in South Africa,” said Councillor Herron.
The following proposed name changes will now be sent to the Mayor for her consideration:
- Coen Steytler Avenue to Walter Sisulu Avenue
- Harrier Street to Blue Crane Street (Parklands)
- Modderdam Road to Robert Sobukwe Road
- NY1 to Steve Biko Road
- Hendrik Verwoerd Road to Uys Krige Road
- Vanguard Drive to Dullah Omar Drive (subject to a consultation by the Mayor with Mrs Farieda Omar)
- Lansdowne Road: from Baden Powell Drive (in Macassar) to Swartklip Road – Govan Mbeki Rd; from Swartklip Road to Wetton Road – Jeff Masemola Rd; from Wetton Road to Turfhall Road to remain Lansdowne Road; and from Turfhall Road to Palmyra Road – Imam Haron Road
- The unnamed footbridge between Bonteheuwel and Langa to be named the Bonte-Langa Footbridge
- Wittebome Centre to Wynberg Civic Centre
- Athlone Civic Centre to Dulcie September Centre
The committee also recommended to the Mayor that the proposed renaming of various roads named after Lord Milner be subjected to a new process of public participation.
Once the Mayor has applied her mind, the proposed changes will be submitted to Council for approval.
On 9 August 2012, as part of the City’s Women’s Day celebrations, the Executive Mayor will rename a square on St Georges Mall “Krotoa Place” in honour of the Khoi woman who worked in the Jan van Riebeeck household. She learnt the Dutch language and later worked as an interpreter. The decision to rename a portion of St George’s Mall at Castle Street after Krotoa was taken by Council in December 2010.
