Several dozen submissions on Johannesburg International airport’s name change to OR Tambo International airport have been received, the ministry of arts and culture said on Monday.
Ministry spokesperson Sandile Memela said the submissions have been a “mixed bag”, with some for and some against the name change.
“It is too soon to determine trends. Only once the deadline for submissions has passed would we able to say so how many were for and against the change,” Memela said.
Minister of Arts and Culture Pallo Jordan published the proposed name change in the Government Gazette on June 30, giving until the end of July for comment.
Memela said last week said it was “unlikely” that the decision to change the name would be affected. In a South African Broadcasting Corporation interview, Jordan said only “compelling reasons” would make him change his mind.
Memela said the department is putting together information about the submissions and will send it to the minister when the deadline has passed. “The minister would only then announce his final decision,” he said.
The proposal to change the name of Africa’s largest and busiest airport was made by Ekurhuleni mayor Duma Nkosi in 2003. He proposed the airport be renamed in honour of former African National Congress president Oliver Tambo, who lived in the township of Wattville, near Benoni.
It would not be the airport’s first name change. It was known as Jan Smuts airport until 1994 when it was changed to Johannesburg International airport to reflect the government’s decision at the time to have neutral names for the country’s airports. — Sapa
Letters of support or objection can be addressed to Jordan by fax to 012Â 440Â 4485 or post to Minister of Arts and Culture, Private Bag X899, Pretoria, 0001