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LEADER HONOURED: Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille unveils the new name of NY1 road in Gugulethu which was renamed Steve Biko Drive. She is flanked by Biko's younger sister Nobandile Biko, Premier Helen Zille, and councillors Belinda Landingwe and Brett Herron. Photo: Unathi Obose

The renaming process was in line with Biko's philosophy, Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille said.

"This was because it replaced terms from the past, associated with inferiority, with names associated with power.

"In the old road name, the NY refers to 'native yard'.

"What was unique in South Africa and the Black Consciousness movement was the mobilisation around asserting . in the face of history . for freedom."

This involved breaking down the "'mental prison" built through semantic means to emancipate the minds of black South Africans, De Lille said.

"Like many great prophets telling difficult truths, Steve Biko was murdered for his ideas . and the power of his revolution.

"Naming the road in his honour was an apt tribute, as it would give power to future generations by doing away with terms associated with historical injustice.

"This is the change of a reconciliation programme that tries to shape a better future from a divided past.

"It is by building, brick by brick, the Cape Town of tomorrow that truly belongs to everyone."

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Thu May 23 02:55:22 SAST 2013 ::

Sep 25, 2012

Papage

Will that change the lives of Gugulethu Communities or is just a Political statement by DA? I have seen many Towns changing street names, but the lives of those people in those towns never changed, it actualy change from better to worse. Name change is a waste of money, Steve must be turning green in his crave, seing people suffering and yet money been wasted by changing the Street in his remembrance.
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Sep 25, 2012

ZIGGAR

this black people who cant do thier own things, why change name instead of building new road and name them our new name . we cant grow by changing what whites people stated. let build our own town and road and move from there. you cnt even see where are we taking this billions of rand thats the national treasure is giving us. lets wake up blacks
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Sep 25, 2012

Vhamsanda

DA is making inroads while Black leaders are still fighting over tenders and succession battle.
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Sep 25, 2012

ktzo

Welcome DA, you have my support. Let them eat each other this ANC morons.
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Sep 25, 2012

YSJones1

Steve Biko will live with us forever!!! and as for you DA I will call shower head for you! If this is a way of gaining political points then try another one,
Gugulethu residents are still using the bucket system and you're doing absolutely nothing.
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Sep 25, 2012

Lord-Have-Mercy

I heard by a friend who used to stay in Cape town that bucket system still exist in WP.
Is it true?
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Sep 25, 2012

MoNati

@YSJones1

Ag please!!! Here where I l!ve (ANC run Munisipality) and the Towns around us is also using the bucket system. As long as there's shacks there will be a bucket system.
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Sep 25, 2012

Tasto

Overrated occasion there is a Steve Biko Drive already at back of CT-Khaylitsha if you drive from miuzenberg to Stellenbosch along the sea!! Saw it while holidaying in CT!
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Sep 25, 2012

skwamasamabele

(I cant believe how expensive cars are in SA. Porsche Panamera for R975,000???!!!!! Panamera in the UK is R630000)

Zille and De Lille should stop patronising people, a National Road or airport, or the Square in Cape town would have been a fitting tribute. Besides, this road-naming must cost some money so why not try and sort out the shacks situation instead??
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Sep 25, 2012

June16

Stephen Biko's name belongs in the major streets of our cities and landmark buildings.Nelson Mandela boulevard is at the periphery of Cape Town,while the colonialists names are to be found everywhere in the commercial hub of the city.We do know the psychological importance of names and we are going going to reverse all this nonsense of keeping our national heroes names in the townships.
Furthermore,it is Bull dust to tell us how costly it is to rename streets, our heroes paid with their lives,we have to do whatever it takes to honour them.
We know when decisions are made based on subtle racial notions.We shall never be not appeased.
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