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Randburg Street Names Not Yet Final
In July 2006 the Johannesburg Development Agency, on behalf of the City of Johannesburg, announced that the names of these main roads, which have strong associations with apartheid, would be changed. The new names would be more representative of the current times.
Following a rigid public participation process involving newspaper advertisements, radio announcements, website surveys and ward committee meetings, Malibongwe Drive (Hendrik Verwoerd Drive) and Nkululeko Drive (Hans Strijdom Drive) emerged as the most popular replacements.
Randburg became a National Party stronghold in the 1950s and both streets are named after former prime ministers who played leading roles in implementing apartheid.
Hans Strijdom, elected prime minister in 1954, is remembered for enlarging the senate; this enabled him to pack the upper house with government supporters who would deliver the two-thirds majority needed to change entrenched clauses in the constitution.
Under his premiership, pass laws for black women came into effect and the Industrial Reconciliation Act, which put an end to mixed race trade unions, was passed.
The word 'nkululeko' means "freedom" and it would refer to the successful struggle against Verwoerd's policies. Malibongwe means "praise the women" and would refer to the 1956 women's march against carrying passes.
Overall, the public participation process revealed that 44 percent of residents, businesses and other stakeholders supported the name changes, and 14 percent were indifferent. Of those who live in the area, 47 percent were for the name changes and 16 percent were against.
The most popular suggestions were to rename Hendrik Verwoerd Drive Nelson Mandela Drive, and to rename Hans Strydom Drive Chris Hani Drive.
According to a detailed document handed to the mayoral committee, there was a mixed reaction from residents regarding the name changes, ranging from "they would be good for the country's democracy" to "they were a waste of ratepayers' money".
With the revitalisation of Randburg under way it is envisaged that changing these street names will create a positive identity with which residents and businesses can identify.
The reaction from businesses, however, was generally negative, with many citing the costs of the changes that would have to be made to business cards, billboards and stationery. Only 20 percent of businesses agreed on the name changes |
Posted on Wednesday, January 31, 2007 (Archive on Wednesday, February 28, 2007)
Posted by hayleym Contributed by hayleym
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