# raname

- Link: https://dearsouthafrica.co.za/raname/
- Published: 2020-09-29T10:58:41+02:00
- Author: dearSA

## Considering the current economic crisis, should the government be spending taxpayers’ money on renaming of Cities, Towns and Roads?

### One of the City’s busiest thoroughfares may be renamed after struggle stalwart, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela if residents of Johannesburg approve.

Cllr Geoffrey Makhubo, the Executive Mayor has announced that the City of Joburg
has started a public consultative drive to have **William Nicol Drive** in the north
of Joburg renamed to **Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Drive**.

Please voice your thoughts, suggestions and solutions – which will be presented 
to the City.

### **25454** participants (closed 30 April 2021)

[view a summary and info here ](https://dearsouthafrica.co.za/raname/summary)

[click to see comments from other participants ](https://dearsouthafrica.co.za/raname/comments/)

![rename William Nicol DearSA](https://cdn.dearsouthafrica.co.za/wp-content/uploads/
2020/09/20190912/rename-william-nicol-s.jpg "rename william nicol-s")

![Dear South Africa](https://cdn.dearsouthafrica.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/
02102235/DearSA-logo-s-100x31.jpg "DearSA-logo-s")

## [CLOSED] Have your say – influence the outcome.

**Error:** Contact form not found.

![Dear South Africa](https://cdn.dearsouthafrica.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/
02102235/DearSA-logo-s-100x31.jpg "DearSA-logo-s")

![DearSA-renming William Nicol](https://cdn.dearsouthafrica.co.za/wp-content/uploads/
2021/03/20190727/CoJ-notice.jpeg "CoJ-notice")

### SUMMARY

The arterial road, which stretches from Hyde Park on Jan Smuts Avenue until Summit
road near Diepsloot in the north is named after a Dutch Reformed minister, theologian,
educator and Administrator of the then Transvaal Province, William Nicol who lived
between 1887 and 1967.

Cllr Makhubo laid a wreath at Madikizela-Mandela’s grave in Fourways on what would’ve
have been the late icon’s 84th birthday on Saturday, 26 September; where he also
made the accouchement.

“As the City, we wanted to pay our respects and officially launch the start of the
public participation process to rename William Nicol Drive after a motion of Council
was passed a year and a half ago in order to honour Mama Winnie,” he explains.

Nicknamed the ‘mother of the nation’ Madikizela-Mandela was a resident of Johannesburg
since 1952 when she moved to the city from her birthplace in the Transkei.

Nelson Mandela’s former wife was one of the first black social workers in South 
Africa who dedicated her life to the betterment of this country.

She was also bestowed with the Freedom of the City award – the City’s highest civilian
honour.

“Until her last day, Mama Winnie was a resident of this world-class African City,”
says Cllr Makhubo.

The Mayor says the renaming of one of the City’s iconic landmarks is a result of
the Council’s acknowledgement of “Mama Winnie’s” immeasurable commitment to the 
struggle for humanity and for liberating this country.

### IN THE MEDIA

    - Businesstech – [Johannesburg to rename William Nicol Drive](https://businesstech.co.za/news/government/478093/johannesburg-to-rename-william-nicol-drive/)
    - Sandton Chronicle – [City launches public participation process to rename William Nicol Drive](https://sandtonchronicle.co.za/282136/city-launches-public-participation-process-to-rename-william-nicol-drive/)
    - News24 – [Public participation launched for road renaming to honour Winnie Madikizela-Mandela](https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/public-participation-launched-for-road-renaming-to-honour-winnie-madikizela-mandela-20200926)
    - BusinessTech – [Joburg’s William Nicol Drive set to get a name change](https://businesstech.co.za/news/lifestyle/436105/joburgs-william-nicol-drive-set-to-get-a-name-change/)

[ Browse the DearSA website](https://dearsouthafrica.co.za/pdps/)

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