Cape Town to honour FW

The City of Cape Town wants to rename part of its N1 freeway after FW de Klerk, the country's last apartheid president.

If the city has its way, by February Table Bay Boulevard will be called FW de Klerk Boulevard.

The city said yesterday the move was supported by both Western Cape Premier Helen Zille and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

The recommendation, by the city's naming committee, will now be subjected to public scrutiny.

The move has, however, been criticised by the ANC in the council, with its leader, Tony Ehrenreich, accusing the city of trying to force through a name suggested by " some rich white people ".

But ANC national spokesman Zizi Kodwa said municipalities had a right to take such decisions based on their vision.

The committee has suggested that the renaming be on or close to February 2 to mark the 25th anniversary of De Klerk's 1990 speech in which he announced the unbanning of the ANC and the release of political prisoners, including former president Nelson Mandela.