DA takes Durban street-renaming battle to court

The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Monday lodged papers in the Durban High Court opposing the eThekwini municipality’s controversial plan to rename Durban’s streets and some of its landmark buildings.

The DA is asking the court to prevent the municipality from proceeding with the second phase of the renaming process and is asking the court to have the first phase of the city’s’ renaming process reversed.

Phase one of the city’s renaming process saw eight major roads in the city centre renamed as well as two buildings.

The municipality was set to proceed with phase two but the public outcry and a march of more than 10 000 people through the city centre on May 1 forced the municipality to extend deadlines for residents to raise objections to the proposed name changes.

However, at a press conference on Tuesday, the DA’s eThekwini caucus leader, John Steenhuisen, said the DA was not opposed to the principle of street renaming.

“The DA supports such changes provided that they are locally driven by the addressees who will be most affected and that this is done through a proper, meaningful and thorough consultation process.”

Both the DA and the Inkatha Freedom Party have accused the council, which has an African National Congress majority, of not keeping to the renaming process agreed by all parties.

“It is our contention that they [the eThekwini municipality] should have proceeded under the provisions of the National Geographical Names Council Act.

“In any event, it is also our contention that under the Constitution, they have no right to rename streets without the process going through the National Geographical Names Council, and Professor Elwyn Jenkins of that council has confirmed this,” said Steenhuisen.

The matter is expected to be heard on Thursday.—Sapa