December 5, 2005
By Anish Abraham
JOHANNESBURG International Airport or OR Tambo International Airport? In complying with standard procedure, the national government is seeking comment from the public on the proposed name change of the country's main international gateway.
Minister of Transport Jeff Radebe has advertised his department's intention to change the name in terms of the South African Geographical Names Council Act.
The South African Geographical Names Council, which is responsible for implementing name changes in the country, requires a proposed name change to be advertised so it can get comment from members of the public on the change.
Comments should be forwarded to the Director General, Department of Transport, Private Bag X193, Pretoria 0001, by 11am on 9 December.
Once comment has been received from the public, the proposal will be put forward to the national cabinet for a final decision.
International airport
The airport, situated near Kempton Park in Ekurhuleni, is the busiest on the African continent and can handle more than 14 million passengers a year. It receives flights from more than 50 airlines.
It will also be one of the main stations on the proposed Gauteng Rapid Rail Link, which aims to connect Johannesburg, the airport and Tshwane.
Ekurhuleni Executive Mayor Councillor Duma Nkosi first proposed the name change to the Metro council in 2003. He proposed the airport be renamed in honour of Oliver Tambo, who lived in the township of Wattville, near Benoni.
According to the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, the current name leads people to associate the airport more with the City of Johannesburg, rather than with Kempton Park, or the Metro within which it lies.
President Thabo Mbeki also supported calls for the airport to be renamed in honour of Tambo, during the 21 October launch of the OR Tambo Cultural Precinct in Tamboville, south of Benoni.
An Ekurhuleni council report states that the current practice of changing names of places and facilities of historical importance is vital for transformation of South African society and there is need for similar action with the airport.
"The name suggested is representative of the core of the nature of the democratisation process and is in itself very historical. The name OR Tambo International Airport may even be more priceless than the present name, and even self-branding as it will be associated with one of the icons of present day South African society," the report concludes.
Oliver Tambo
Oliver Reginald Tambo, born in Mbizana in the Eastern Cape province, was a leading figure in the ANC. Along with former president Nelson Mandela and Walter Sisulu, he was a founding member of the ANC's Youth League.
Both Tambo and his wife Adelaide played an important role in the struggle for democracy while they lived in Wattville, until they went into exile in 1960.
He was responsible for setting up the party's international mission and for mobilising foreign support against the apartheid system. After more than 30 years in exile, he returned to the township 1991, continuing with his quest to improve the lives of those in the community.
He died after a stroke in the early hours of 24 April 1993 and is buried in an area just south of Wattville, called Tamboville in his honour.
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