The William Nicol Drive has been officially renamed after the late struggle icon Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.
The Winnie Mandela Drive was unveiled on Tuesday by Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi, who said the renaming is not only about the struggle icon but the country as a whole.
“Madikizela led when other leaders could not lead and was a symbol of bravery. This initiative symbolises the power struggles of South Africa,” Lesufi said.
“By naming this street after Madikizela, it does not mean we do not recognise other heroes. If we could, most streets would carry the names of women who fought for freedom.”
Also speaking at the event, Johannesburg mayor Kabelo Gwamanda said the renaming of William Nicol Drive is a step towards dismantling the symbols of apartheid.
“Due to the generational gap, I do not think I qualify to speak about the life of this remarkable woman, except to acknowledge the fact that she was indeed a God’s gift to South Africa,” said Gwamanda.
He described Madikizela-Mandela as a woman who was dedicated to overcoming any challenge she was faced with.
“This symbol does not mark only the life of a heroine, but a beacon of hope which our history was defined.
“It is, however, in my view that South Africa was denied an opportunity for a female president on the African continent.”
It has been five years since Loyiso Masuku, an ANC councillor, tabled a motion in the Johannesburg council to rename William Nicol Drive after Madikizela-Mandela.
“We are renaming it to show that names carry meaning, names have a heritage in our space,” said Masuku, who is now the MMC for group corporate and shared services.
“Those who fought for us like Mama Winnie, we are immortalising her. We are removing those who were the architects of apartheid.”
Nicol was the second chairperson of the Afrikaner Broederbond, a white nationalist organisation credited with the formulation of apartheid.
Minister of Transport Sindisiwe Chikunga also attended the event. She sent condolences to the Mandela family following the death of Zoleka, Madikizela-Mandela’s granddaughter.
Zoleka succumbed to cancer on Monday evening and the family confirmed her passing in a statement early on Tuesday.
“Zoleka was an ambassador for the transport department between 2011 and 2012 after the death of her daughter in 2010,” Chikunga said.
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