Renaming the Union Buildings — the seat of government in Pretoria — could take years, said the Ministry of Arts and Culture on Thursday.
”That could, as in the case of the OR Tambo [International airport] name change, take up to three years,” said ministry spokesperson Sandile Memela.
The proposal to change the name of the former Johannesburg International airport was formally made in October 2003 and the official renaming took place last week.
The African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) announced on Thursday that it had submitted a formal proposal to rename the Union Buildings after former ANC deputy president Walter Sisulu, who died in 2003.
The Union Buildings house the main government offices, including the Presidency. They were designed by Sir Herbert Baker and completed in 1913, three years after South Africa became a union.
ANCYL spokesperson Zizi Kodwa said the proposal was submitted to the South African National Heritage Council (SANHC). He said SANHC chief executive Sonwabile Mancotywa had expressed support for the proposal and said he would take it further.
Memela called the proposal ”a significant development in the right direction”.
Memela said the proposal would have to go first to the Tshwane metro council, as the Union Buildings are within its geographical area.
If the council approves the request, it will be sent to the provincial geographical names committee, then to the South African National Geographical Names Council, then a recommendation will be made to the minister, who discusses it with Cabinet before a decision is made.
”People must understand it’s not about the minister imposing his will on the people, it’s the other way round,” said Memela.
Mancotywa was not available for comment.
On the SANHC website, Mancotywa argues in favour of name-changing.
”Rather than a source of division, this process actually offers us a rare opportunity to find each other and tell our shared history,” he wrote.
”A sectarian heritage and history can be preserved in many other ways, including in museums. But certainly not in our public spaces because this is where we all meet.
”Public spaces have to appeal to us all and represent our shared history and values.” — Sapa