The City of Joburg has called on residents and interested or affected parties to make submissions on the city’s proposal to rename four streets in the Joburg CBD to honour the late Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and three other human rights activists.
On Monday, the city opened submissions for the public on its proposal to rename four streets around St Mary's Cathedral in the CBD to honour the late bishop for his lifelong championing of human rights.
Tutu died in December last year.
Members of the public have 28 days starting from Monday to make their representations.
The proposed renaming of streets by the city is as follows꞉ Plein Street is to be renamed Desmond Tutu Street, Wanderers Street to Simeon Nkoane Street, De Villiers Street to Trevor Huddleston Street and Hoek Street to Cathedral Street.
The city’s acting spokesperson, Nkhensani Makhobela, said the renaming of the streets was to honour the legacy of people who had served at St Mary’s.
“The renaming of streets around the Cathedral Precinct has been proposed by the Desmond Tutu precinct creation team headed by the dean of Johannesburg, Rev Xolani Dlwathi. Street renaming offers a way of marking and proclaiming the heritage associated with the precinct and can celebrate major figures connected with the mission of St. Mary’s.
“It is recommended that street renaming would enhance and positively reinforce the identity of the precinct. Streets which define the heritage precinct have been proposed for renaming after three deans who distinguished themselves at St. Mary’s Cathedral, namely Desmond Tutu, Goville French-Beytah and Simeon Nkoane and Father Trevor Huddleston, who had a formative influence on the young Desmond Tutu,’’ said Makhobela.
She said once the public consultation process is complete, the municipal council will handle the matter.
“A report will be submitted to council to provide feedback on the public consultation process and to request council for approval for implementation on the new names on the ground,” she said.
Makhobela said it will cost the city between R150,000 and R200,000 to advertise in newspapers on the renaming.
'“Then there is the cost of registration of the names with the surveyor-general in order to update the general plans of the area, which is R175 per general plan,’’ said Makhobela.
Submissions can be sent to dominicam@joburg.org.za.
kokam@sowetan.co.za
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