August 31, 2007
By Lesego Madumo
THE R21/R24, the highway that links Joburg to all other Gauteng municipalities, has a new name. Commonly known as "the airport road", as it links OR Tambo International with Joburg and Tshwane, it was renamed Albertina Sisulu Freeway at a ceremony characterised by nostalgia on Thursday, 30 August.
Minister of Transport Jeff Radebe; Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa; MEC for transport, roads, and works Ignatius Jacobs; MEC for sport, arts, culture and recreation Barbara Creecy; and Albertina Sisulu – along with her family – attended the ceremony, held alongside the busy road.
The member of the mayoral committee for transportation, Rehana Moosajee, and Ruby Mathang, the member for development planning and urban management, were also there, along with other dignitaries and members of the public.
Jacobs said the renaming was a highlight of Women's Month. "Mama Sisulu is a true patriot to all of us," he said. Over the years she had gained the respect of people around the world.
Radebe described Sisulu as a gallant woman who had inspired the development of the nation and who had played a major role in the emancipation of all women. The route was a gateway of the world to South Africa, he said.
Shilowa spoke of a letter Sisulu had written to him, in which she wrote, "My child, at my age I expect nothing. [However] I have watched the immeasurable progress made by the province and my heart wells with pride every time I take credit for this because [it] has been made possible by all of you who are my children."
When searching for a new name for the highway, the Gauteng provincial government had opted for something that would reflect the values and principles for which Sisulu stood. "She stands for justice, equality, ethical conduct and, above all, for unity," the premier said.
"The road that we are renaming after her today is symbolic of the unity and equality that Mama Sisulu stands for."
She belonged to a select group of women who had withstood pain, suffering and hardship "so that we may enjoy freedom and democracy".
The process of renaming had not been concluded, Shilowa explained, saying work would forge ahead into the Johannesburg central business district, including portions of Commissioner Street and Main Reef Road, right up to Randfontein.
The province had taken conscious decisions in its economic growth and social development strategies to integrate women's emancipation, empowerment, equality and poverty eradication in its initiative to build Gauteng as a globally competitive region.
Marking her contribution to South Africa: the R21/R24 airport road has been renamed the Albertina Sisulu Freeway
"As we come to the end of national Women's Month and we prepare to start Heritage Month, we salute Mama Albertina Sisulu for placing women's emancipation at the centre of the liberation struggle. We also thank her for giving us the heritage of freedom and democracy."
Radebe, Shilowa and Max Sisulu, Sisulu's eldest son, removed the brightly coloured veil from the road sign. "The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak," the son said, thanking the officials on behalf of his mother. His mother was weak because of old age, he explained. She turns 89 in October.
Mathang said that the renaming was long overdue. "When you look at the contribution of Mama Sisulu and her stature, you see that we should have done this a long time ago."
He explained that the City aimed to engage with the provincial government to further renaming in the CBD. "[The City] looks forward to the work that will be done on the linkage routes in the [CBD], in honour of veterans of the struggle."
Albertina Sisulu is a founding member of the ANC's Women's League. She helped to organise the women's march in 1956 to the Union Buildings in Pretoria. At that march, about 20 000 women protested against the pass laws. She was the first woman to be arrested under the infamous 1963 90-day detention law, which gave the minister of police the power to imprison people without trial.
Over the next three financial years, as part of its pledge to improve road infrastructure, the provincial government will enlarge the R511 between Fourways and Diepsloot; complete the link between Dobsonville Road (K102) and Main Reef Road; and start construction on the Pinehaven interchange and the K29 adjoining Cosmo City.
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