Cape Town — Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, has given some insight on his department’s stance regarding the proposed renaming of Sandton Drive to Leila Khaled Drive.
In a written reply to Parliament, McKenzie said the renaming of municipal streets does not fall under the South Africa Geographical Names Council Act (SAGNC) nor his ministry’s mandate, IOL reported.
McKenzie said municipalities are not responsible for following any public consultation process when it comes to naming streets and there was no legislation prohibiting naming places or streets after internally-known politicians.
He said decisions were based on names that were submitted for consideration at a national level, and the minister is guided by the SAGNC Act in deciding on the naming and renaming of geographical features.
“The name Sandton Drive has not been brought to the attention of the Minister of Sport, Arts, and Culture, but it is worthwhile to mention that the cost carried by the Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture, as related to name changes nationally, is budgeted for as an allocation towards the transformation of South Africa’s naming landscape to reflect the history and languages of all the people of SA,” McKenzie said in his reply.
Leila Khaled a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, was involved in the hijacking of a TWA flight in 1969. The decision to rename it after she has caused controversy questioning the historical, cultural and political implications.
The DA, the Patriotic Alliance (PA), and Action SA have outright rejected the proposal calling Khaled a “terrorist” and an “aircraft hijacker”. But the African National Congress in Joburg says the proposed renaming is meant as a gesture to strengthen diplomatic ties with the Palestinian government.
ANC Regional Executive Committee Member, Thuthukile Zuma, said the party has supported the council’s decision to rename Sandton Drive,
Newzroom Afrika reported.
Zuma said the ANC has always supported the plight of the people of Palestine and it now marks nearly one year since the ANC submitted its bid to the ICJ against Israel.
“We come from a history of Apartheid and even the ICJ has declared the illegal settlements an Apartheid state. If South Africa, has experienced a mirror of their history, the world stood with us,” she said, and added that South Africans should return the favour (to Palestine).
Zuma also explained the importance of renaming the road to honour a Palestinian activist.
“What’s important about international solidarity work is to keep that narrative alive in people’s minds so that people do what they need to do, whether that is pressurising their government or pressurising companies that support Israel,” she said.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
