DA PETITIONS AGAINST RENAMING WILLIAM NICOL

The Democratic Alliance has started a petition against the City of Johannesburg’s attempt to change the name of William Nicol Drive.

The ANC has proposed that the street’s name be changed to Winnie Mandela Drive, and announced the start of the initiative in September 2020.

William Nicol was a Dutch Reformed Minister and member of the National Party.

The DA is now calling on people to petition this proposed name change.

According to the DA, there are several places in Johannesburg named after the struggle icon and former wife of Nelson Mandela already, and a name change is an expensive procedure that would ultimately be paid for by the tax payer.

The southafrican.com recently did a search to find out how many places are named after Mandela already, and here are just a few:

-        At least four schools in the Greater Johannesburg region.

-        A taxi rank, a library, and a road in Tembisa alone.

-        Several settlements.

-        Winnie Mandela Park.

-        A number of health services, including community clinics, are also named after the late struggle icon.

Those interested in signing the petition have until the 27th of April to do so.

Image credit: The Sandton Times