Renaming Sandton Drive shows tone-deaf administration, says ActionSA

ActionSA is opposed to the City of Johannesburg's proposal to rename Sandton Drive Leila Khaled Drive.

This initiative, announced on September 18, has sparked significant debate among residents and political parties.

ActionSA Gauteng chairperson Funzi Ngobeni urged residents to engage in the discussion by submitting their comments.

“ActionSA opposes the city's proposed renaming Sandton Drive and encourages residents to exercise their rights by sending comments and inputs about this matter,” said Ngobeni.

Ngobeni said “Sandton Drive” is a diverse and unified name.

"‘Sandton Drive’ is a perfectly neutral and unifying name and a perfectly appropriate name for a heterogeneous and cosmopolitan society such as Johannesburg.”

The renaming proposal fails to benefit the community. “As ActionSA we will lobby all political parties in the city to vote against this proposal as we believe it offers no benefits to the residents of our city.”

The proposal to rename the drive after Khaled, a Palestinian militant known for her role in plane hijackings in the late 1960s, has raised concerns about the appropriateness of honouring an international figure over local heroes.

“The renaming of public landmarks to reinforce the city’s heritage is well and good, as it honours those who have played a significant role in our history and strengthens our collective identity,” said Ngobeni.

“However, the city is faced with many challenges in service delivery failures — crippling water shortages, rampant unemployment, severe housing shortages, crumbling infrastructure and rising crime rates. Diverting our attention and scarce resources to renaming a street that is not even offensive to anyone will be a demonstration of a tone-deaf administration.

“Recent reports from City Power refer to 81,000 street lights that are not working in the municipality. In addition, an average of 1,000 potholes are reported to the city each week, but only about 4,500 potholes are fixed each month. It is crucial that such road projects are prioritised to ensure the safety and wellbeing of residents.”

The council has not made a decision regarding the renaming proposal and will consider feedback from the public.

Details regarding the proposal can be inspected at the arts, culture and heritage directorate in Newtown during office hours. The city has invited submissions related to this matter to be sent within 28 days of the notice’s publication.

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