Plea to CT mayor: Rename the roads honouring apartheid PMs

Mike Wills interviews Keith Gottschalk, Adjunct Professor of Political Studies at UWC.

Renaming prominent roads, buildings and facilities has been an ongoing project since South Africa became a democratic state 30 years ago.

While the names of some apartheid leaders have been removed from some of the major roads and highways in Cape Town, the process has come to a halt, says well-known academic and writer Keith Gottschalk.

In an opinion piece marking Heritage Month, the Adjunct Professor of Political Studies at UWC singles out three street names honouring apartheid leaders, which he says must go.

These are Hertzog Boulevard, DF Malan Street and Hans Strijdom Avenue.

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In conversation with Mike Wills, Gottschalk points out that these names were chosen by a 'Foreshore Board of Broederbonders' in Pretoria, back in the 1950s.

While the Cape Town Metro Council renamed a number of roads (like Hendrik Verwoerd Drive in the northern suburbs which became Uys Krige Drive), for 15 years now it's ignored its own Kadalie Commission on removing the names of Hertzog, Malan and Strijdom, he says.

"It is now a quarter of a century overdue to stop honouring such names."

"This is a plea to Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis: rename the streets honouring the three highest-profile racist prime ministers."

Keith Gottschalk, Adjunct Professor of Political Studies - UWC 

While he says there are many South Africans to choose from when it comes to renaming these three roads, Gottschalk does come up with some suggestions of his own.

Because both DF Malan Street and Hertzog Boulevard run past Artscape, he proposes revered South African ballet dancers Johaar Mosaval and David Poole, who both grew up in District Six.

"There are other street names which are also past their sell-by date. This proposal limits itself to an absolute minimum, the three highest-profile racists who are still honoured."

Keith Gottschalk, Adjunct Professor of Political Studies - UWC

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview