“Today we are celebrating yet again the legacy of an outstanding South African, the Limpopo-born teacher, politician and journalist — Sefako Mapogo Makgatho,” said Zuma in a speech prepared for delivery at the ceremony .

“His contribution to the freedom and democracy we enjoy today, in the early years of our struggle for freedom, is being recognised through the naming of the Presidential Guest House in his honour.” 

Zuma said the presidency wanted visitors they received from all walks of life and from abroad to be inspired by Makgatho’s legacy.

The naming was also in line with the national move to have symbols and place names reflect the country’s history and diversity.

Zambezi Drive north east of the city was being renamed Makgatho Drive.

The nation should continuously pay tribute to men and women who committed their lives to fighting for human dignity, equality and freedom, he said.

Zuma provided some background on Makgatho, who he said appeared to have been be a “regular visitor” to the Union Buildings.

He met General Louis Botha, first prime minister of the Union of South Africa, and other government officials there. He was lobbying against the pass laws and the Native Land Act, which forbade land sales or purchases by blacks.

“President Makgatho believed in direct engagement with the oppressors who were sitting in the Union Buildings, in efforts to make them realise that they were destroying the country,” said Zuma.

“It is befitting that a residence linked to the Union Buildings be named after him.” 

Former president Nelson Mandela was so inspired by Makgatho that he named his son Makgatho Mandela after him.

Sefako Mapogo Makgatho died in 1951, in Pretoria.

Born in then Pietersburg, now called Polokwane, Makgatho led the SA Native National Congress from 1917 to 1924.

He had been a teacher, a trade unionist, journalist and political activist “of note”.

Makgatho rejected the authorities’ explanation for pass laws — that it would be easier to identify a black person if they carried a pass.

He noted that the cost of getting a pass was filling the administration’s coffers for things like schools for white children, while the needs of blacks were being neglected. “Again, like the Cape Natives who carry no passes, white men also die in Johannesburg and it has never been suggested that they too, should carry identification passes,” an extract of a speech by Makgatho at an ANC conference in 1919 said.

Zuma said that even if this history was “painful and uncomfortable” it could not be wished away.

“We must learn from it and build one united nation from the ruins of the divisions of the past.”

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Tue May 21 15:08:22 SAST 2013 ::

Jul 12, 2012

Mellow

Former president Nelson Mandela was so inspired by Makgatho that he named his son Makgatho Mandela after him
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#speechless

So they re-named the presidential guest house after him, how is this relevant when they couldnt celebrate a man while he was still living?
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Jul 12, 2012

kataleya

Mellow@wa tshenwa nara wena bitch
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Jul 12, 2012

Mellow

kataleya
Mellow@wa tshenwa nara wena bitch
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Is this your best response?
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Jul 12, 2012

CheeseBoy

Why not just name it Den for the Spears' Harem coz that's exactly what it is. forget Nkandla for now.
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Jul 12, 2012

Knan

Renaming of places, wonder if our GPS devices will ever rest regular updating
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Jul 12, 2012

Tsar-Rasputin

Name the damn place Juju Villa
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Jul 12, 2012

BaleliM

is this his way of extending an olive branch to Limpopo? I see no need for someone to remember me in my death when they did not know my name when i was alive
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Jul 12, 2012

guiliano

@mr president - that is what you are good at changing streets and buildings.
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Jul 12, 2012

MommaC

Oh for goodness sakes. What was wrong with Zambezi Drive? Its a bloody RIVER for goodness sakes!

I can understand them using obscene amounts of money to change the name of Gen Louis Botha or Jan Smuts or any of the other streets named after gods knows who (to names I have never heard of anyhow) but to rename Charles, Duncan and Zambezi is just geldmorse. Its not like Pretoria has voggin millions and billions to throw away on nonsense.
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Jul 12, 2012

Mzigo

BaleliM
is this his way of extending an olive branch to Limpopo? I see no need for someone to remember me in my death when they did not know my name when i was alive
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Do not worry nobody will remember 'in your death' only for the gravy yard mices after chowing your flesh leaving your dry and white boned, as well as the tombstone bearing your name with your age will remember you.After all you never contributed a thing for the betterment of the country except your on nagging and mourning about other every little issue.
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