Street renaming fight drags on
2010-06-03 22:12
Durban - The Democratic Alliance in KwaZulu-Natal on Thursday announced that it would continue to fight the eThekwini municipality over the street renaming procedure.
This was after the KwaZulu-Natal High Court ruled in favour of the municipality.
DA’s spokesperson John Steinhuisen said in a statement: "We remain of the view that the street renaming process was flawed and we will continue to fight this matter on behalf of the thousands of residents who still seek justice."
In 2008 the DA and the IFP brought an application to the courts in 2008, saying the street renaming process of about 100 streets, roads, highways and two buildings should be reversed by the council.
The IFP and the DA claimed the renaming process was flawed and not procedurally fair.
Two new names that caused the most anger among residents were the decision to rename Kingsway in Amanzimtoti after Andrew Zondo - who placed a bomb in a rubbish bin in the Sanlam Centre in Amanzimtoti in 1985 - and Mangosuthu Highway, named after the IFP leader, Mangosuthu Buthelezi, to Griffiths Mxenge Highway after the ANC stalwart.
Public facilities
Ethekwini municipality mayor Obed Mlaba said the process was done in fairness.
"This was more in fairness to those who put lives on the block for us to access all resources of the country. Decent work, land and liberation," said Mlaba.
Mlaba said the municipality would deal with names that were before court. He would not elaborate if the controversial Mangosuthu Highway and Kingsway would be changed.
Steinhuisen said the DA was very disappointed in the judgment.
ANC provincial secretary Sihle Zikalala said the ANC welcomed the ruling.
"The renaming of streets and our public facilities should be understood within its proper context," he said.
"We have no intention of promoting only ANC leaders. Our approach is the need of transformation and preserving the legacy of all people who contributed to make our country to be what it is today," said Zikalala.
- SAPA
