IN a historical move, the former William Nicol Drive has now been renamed Winnie Mandela Drive.
The ceremony took place on Tuesday, along one of the busiest roads in Joburg, this morning.
In 2021 the ruling party ANC, proposed the name change under the then-Mayor Geoff Makhubu.
City announced it was considering the name change and asked the public to comment on the proposal.
Weeks later, the DA called for residents to sign a petition against “this illegal and pointless name change”, questioning why taxpayer money should be spent on this during an economic crisis.
Madikizela-Mandela’s great-granddaughters, Zamakhosi Obiri and Ziphokazi Manaway, said the family was happy that her name would be mentioned in connection with the road.
“It was a road Big Mommy Madikizela-Mandela’s nickname often travelled, and it leads to her final resting place.”
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi said renaming the street was about something more than just erasing history.
“Mama Winnie was too special and her teachings deserve our support, and the renaming of this street.”
Mayor of Johannesburg, Kabelo Gwamanda, said the “renaming of the road marked a step towards “dismantling the symbols and remnants of oppression and subjugation”
Unfortunately, the renaming ceremony took place after the death of Zoleka Mandela, the granddaughter to both uMama Winnie and Nelson Mandela.
