WILLIAM NICOL DRIVE NOW WINNIE MANDELA DRIVE
It’s official, from now on Joburgers will be driving along Winnie Mandela Drive instead of William Nicol Drive.
The official renaming ceremony took place on Tuesday 26 September on what would have been the former wife of Nelson Mandela’s 87th birthday.
Although the unveiling took place this week, the name change was initially proposed by then-mayor Geoff Makhubo in 2021.
At the time, Makhubo said the name change must be treated with sensitivity.
“Names carry history. They say something about those whose contributions are deemed worthy of a public and multi-generational memory. These are by their very nature contentious and that is why they must always be treated with the sensitivity they deserve.”
Zamakhosi Obiri and Ziphokhazi Manaway, Madikizela-Mandela’s great-granddaughters said the family was excited about the name change and especially that specific road and her connection to it.
“It was a road Big Mommy (Madikizela-Mandela’s nickname among her closest family and friends) often travelled, and it leads to her final resting place.”
When the ANC initially suggested the name change and asked for the public’s opinion on the matter, the DA asked, “in a time of economic crisis, why spend taxpayer’s money like this?”.
Image credit: South African