June 27, 2006
By Tammy O'Reilly
TWO main roads in Randburg – whose names have strong associations with apartheid – have been tagged for a name change to increase the area's marketing potential.
The Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) is proposing that Hendrik Verwoerd Drive, linking Linden with Ferndale, and Hans Strijdom Drive through Randburg, stretching from Midrand to Cresta, be given new names that are more reflective of the time.
Hans Strijdom Drive in Randburg is set for a new name
"An initial study has shown the names were found to be offensive to the majority of South Africans," said Lael Bethlehem, CEO of the JDA. "As an agent of the City, we do not have the power to change the names of any streets, but we want to gauge public opinion on the name change option so that the image of the area can be upgraded."
The Randburg area 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 his enlargement of the senate which enabled him to pack the upper house with government supporters who would deliver the two-thirds majority necessary to change entrenched clauses in the constitution.
Under his premiership, pass laws for African women came into effect as well as the Industrial Reconciliation Act that put an end to mixed trade unions.
Hendrik Verwoerd was South Africa's prime minister from 1958 until his assassination in 1966. He is remembered as the architect of racist laws like the Bantu Education Act and the Separate Universities Act and segregation practices known across the globe as apartheid.
There are other streets in Johannesburg named after apartheid players, but name changes for them are no longer being considered since they are not as strongly linked to black oppression.
"We don't want to completely obliterate everything that is connected to the past," says Bethlehem. "Our history is a part of who we are, but we would like to have places and names in the city that are more reflective of the diversity that we have today."
The name change is one aspect of the JDA's R5-million plan to revitalise the Randburg CBD and attract investment back into the area.
Through a rigid consultation process laid out in the City's,
name changing policy businesses, the media, ward councillors, political parties and religious figures will get the chance to have their say as well as give suggestions for names.
African Responses will conduct telephonic and face-to-face interviews with them over the next two months and the JDA are also asking for views and suggestions be posted to Ursula Ntsubane at Johannesburg Development Agency, 90 Market Street, Johannesburg or faxed to 011 804 3466.
"One of the main aspects of the consultation process is to get a name that satisfies everyone. We have many roads and places named after prolific people, so are asking people to think more laterally, maybe move out of choosing names from political spheres completely. There's no reason why we can't have a road renamed to say, a flower, so long as it's not insensitive."
"We encourage full public participation," says Ursula Ntsubane, development manager at the JDA.
"We understand and respect the fact that the changing of streets and place names is a highly emotive issue. However, the memories these names hold are not memories that build us as a nation. What we are attempting to do with this process is to start rebuilding our sense of self."
If response to the name change is positive, then the new name will come into effect in November 2006.
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