Durban name changes a missed opportunity for reconciliation

Submitted by Michael Francis

There is much furore and debate about current street name changes in Durban. I see it as a missed opportunity for reconciliation as it is merely an exercise in petty politics by a group of ideologues.

South Africa is a society in transition. A large part of transformation is symbolic and the current name changes reflect that need. The changing of names to show the diversity of the country and to honour individuals who strived for freedom is overdue. The importance of place and space feeds into the need to change these names to ensure all South Africans feel part of the places in which they live. I personally welcome the changing of names as a process of reconciliation and redress.

There are legitimate concerns raised about the cost of these changes in such a tight economy, but the need for redress still exists in South Africa and that cost must be borne at some stage. Thus I support the rapid changing of names to reflect broader society and the diverse history of the country.

However, the naming process has been fraught with a lack of consultation. The lack of democratic consultation slanders the fight for democracy that cost some of the people who are so honoured their lives. One could object there was no transparency in how people’s concerns were addressed, if they were at all.

The municipality’s claim that it wished to honour lesser-known struggle heroes was a great ideal in principle. However, there was a missed opportunity to contextualise and publicise the role played by these lesser-known heroes. The municipality has stated that it will distribute brochures detailing new street names with a profile of the person after whom it is named.

The publication of the profiles after the naming has been decided is underhanded. Many of the names are — by the municipality’s own admittance — little-known struggle heroes. The pre-publication of their profiles should have been an opportunity to discuss the struggle and the roles played by these people. This also would have allowed people to challenge the location of the new street name as well as the relevance of individuals put forward. A public debate and discussion would have reflected the principles for which many of these people supposedly fought.

On matters of principle, one then has to wonder at the choice of changing Northway Road to Kenneth Kaunda Road. While it is true the he helped liberate Zambia, he then promptly formed a one-party state and finally a dictatorship by 1972 under his claim to president for life. Will this subversion of the principles of liberty and his oppression of his people appear on his profile?

Some high-profile names are being reused unnecessarily and alongside these offensive names. Steve Biko needs no reintroduction to South Africans and his commemoration does not require a street as well as an entire campus. Could the renaming of Mansfield Road not have been used to expand the list to other deserving candidates?

What of using names of some of the Zulu traditional leaders who lost their lives during the struggle? This would doubly honour the Zulu heritage of the province and that of individuals who fought and died for equality. The struggle against apartheid took many forms and these leaders deserve respect and spaces for remembrance far more deserving than Che Guevara, who played no significant role in South Africa. He is an empty symbol of the “left” and particularly ironic when the Durban municipality runs on neo-liberal principles of cost-recovery.

The name-changing process is supposed to be about reconciliation and redress. Alternatives could include people like IFP member Inkosi Dingizwe Ndlovu, who was assassinated in 1991 while involved in the peace initiatives in Ixopo. His death was an assault on the peace process and was disrespectful to traditional leadership. Maybe remembrance of people like him would really signify reconciliation. The ANC was not the only group involved in the struggle.

The name changes failed to locate some of the changes in appropriate places. Some may argue that Andrew Zondo fought for freedom and deserves remembrance, but to rename Kingsway in Amanzimtoti is violently offensive to the memory of the innocent civilians killed in his bomb attack at the shopping centre. Even his father was against that name change.

Perhaps the three Shandu sisters who were killed in Umgababa near Amanzimtoti could be honoured and remembered by renaming Kingsway Shandu Drive. It is highly appropriate to do so as the road links Umgababa, a former black area, to the previously whites-only areas of Amanzimtoti. These women fought for peace through their work with the Youth Brigade and in doing so lost their lives. Their story ought to be told. This would also allow a more balanced approach by including some more women from the struggle. The fact that they were killed by ANC comrades makes for an uncomfortable truth; the admittance at the TRC confirms their deaths in this manner. Using their names could then reaffirm the message and intentions of the TRC in a permanent fashion.

Another potentially offensive name is Ushukela Drive in Isipingo. This is a strange way to commemorate indentured labourers from India by simply using the isiZulu word for “sugar”. Is there not a leader from the Indian community who could have been used instead? Perhaps Gandhi’s name would have been better used here than in a red-light district of Durban.

As I said above, the name changes are overdue and are many are welcomed, but lack of transparency, the use of offensive names, some absurd names and the lack of real democratic discussion dishonours the memory of those people who strived for equality, freedom and democracy.

Dr Michael Francis is a post-doctoral Research Fellow in culture, communication and media studies at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, eThekwini