Cape Town is holding fire on a decision on the renaming of streets and public places, mayor Helen Zille announced on Thursday.
A list of proposed changes that would see apartheid-era names such as Hendrik Verwoerd Drive replaced by those of struggle heroes, was on the agenda for approval at Thursday’s council meeting.
Zille said while the city obviously wanted to promote harmony and healing, it was ”with some regret” that she had asked for the item to be withdrawn.
She said it was a sobering fact that many of the scars in South African society still ran deep, and there were strong views in communities about names of streets and places.
”The process has still a way to go if we are to achieve our stated objectives and we would undermine these goals if we brought [renaming] proposals to this council prematurely,” she said.
”This could perpetuate the hurt and division we want to avoid.”
Zille said she hoped the process could be ”revisited” in a way that would provide Cape Town with opportunities to promote harmony among communities.
Zille set up a panel of experts, chaired by Rhoda Kadalie, in June last year to advise the council on renaming.
Kadalie, a well known human-rights activist, served as a commissioner on the Human Rights Commission and is a committee member of the Mandela Rhodes Scholarships.
The council received 238 submissions and the panel presented a final list of 31 proposed changes.
Under its proposals, Hendrik Verwoerd Drive in Panorama would become Beyers Naude Drive, JB Hertzog Boulevard in the city centre would become Nelson Mandela Boulevard, and NY1 would become Steve Biko Drive.
Although there was an extensive public consultation process, it is understood that ward councillors have been reporting dissatisfaction in communities over the proposals. – Sapa