February 10, 2006
By Lucky Sindane
THE late struggle icon Joe Slovo has one of the city's busier roads named after him - Harrow Road through Yeoville is now officially Joe Slovo Drive.
The City's executive mayor, Amos Masondo, and other council officials attended the formal unveiling of a plaque next to the Louis Botha Avenue flyover to commemorate the occasion on Friday, 10 February.
Also in attendance were the general secretary of South African Communist Party (SACP), Blade Nzimande, and Helena Dolny, Slovo's widow.
Joe Slovo Drive forms the boundary between Berea and Yeoville, in the east of the city. Slovo once lived here. "It couldn't have been Grayston Drive or any other street. Harrow Road is the most fantastic choice," remarked Dolny.
Unveiling the plaque, Masondo said that the renaming of the street was a fitting tribute to Slovo, who had played a critical role in the struggle for democracy and human rights in South Africa.
"This is a truly unique occasion for the City of Johannesburg. Joe Slovo was a leader of both the working class and the national democratic movement led by the African National Congress (ANC)," Masondo added.
The City approved the renaming of Harrow Road last year after a request was put forward by the SACP to mark the 10th anniversary of Slovo's death on 6 January 1995.
Slovo was the national chairperson of the SACP when he died. At the time Slovo was minister of housing and a member of the national executive committee of the ANC.
"It is sad to note that Joe Slovo departed so soon, just when the country was beginning to grapple with reconstruction and development," said Masondo. "We could have benefited from his immense experience, his wisdom and his sage advice."
Those who had worked with Slovo knew he would have supported the efforts of the City to eradicate the remaining remnants of apartheid rule, the mayor added.
He pointed out that the City did not take lightly decisions to change street names and that in every case a lengthy procedure was followed, including involving the public in the decision-making. It was also necessary to ensure that requirements laid down by the City's own by-laws, policies and regulations were also followed.
"When Johannesburg adopted a policy on name changes in 2003, we stated clearly that the names of streets, townships and public places should reflect the democratic changes the country has undergone since 1994," the mayor said.
"We also stated that the new names should reflect the diversity and cultural heritage of all our citizens and that names that are offensive should be replaced."
Masondo continued, "We also said that our city must not lose its sense of history. Certain names would have to be retained because they represent a certain era or a specific event in history."
All the street signs, as well as the markings on the highways, have been changed to reflect the new name.
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