SPLENDID rainbows are a feature of KwaZulu-Natal's central Ukhahlamba-Drakensberg.
But the mountain range no longer towers over a rainbow nation, laments John Tungay, who founded the famous Drakensberg Boys' Choir School and was a facilitator during the final days of apartheid.
He feels it will help if the name of former president Nelson Mandela finds its way on to the map.
He wants the 3149metre Cathkin Peak, known in isiZulu as Mdedelolo, to become Mount Mandela - or at least to have the name Mandela incorporated into it.
"If there's such a Mandela icon one can in times of great trouble refer back to such leaders of the past whom we can honour," says Tungay, who now lives in Howick.
"And we can revert to being a rainbow nation because we aren't one now.
"I would think Mandela was above ordinary party politics."
While Tungay's proposal has not yet reached official channels, it has certainly prompted responses in letters to the editor in his town's newspaper, Village Talk.
A member of the Zunckel family - a name associated with the mountain range - asks Tungay to "please leave the naming of the peaks in our beloved berg alone".
He fails to find any reference to Mandela in his research about the mountains, whether climbing the berg or assisting with rescues.
But Tungay says Madiba was guest of honour at a music concert attended by 300 people on a piece of flat ground near the summit of Cathkin Peak in 1995.
Mandela, support staff, three choirs and other guests reached the spot by helicopter. The on-site tuning of a piano at such high altitude was even submitted to the Guinness Book of Records.
Tungay was not there himself, but Bunny Ashley-Botha, former director of music at the Drakensberg Boys' Choir School, was present.
"Mandela wanted to meet all the performers and kitchen staff. They all lined up to meet this wonderful man on top of the mountain overlooking KwaZulu-Natal," he said.
Letter writer Martin Winter said: "It would be unwise to set a precedent of renaming Drakensberg peaks after prominent South Africans no matter how great their services might have been."
Bid to name peak after Mandela
SPLENDID rainbows are a feature of KwaZulu-Natal's central Ukhahlamba-Drakensberg.
But the mountain range no longer towers over a rainbow nation, laments John Tungay, who founded the famous Drakensberg Boys' Choir School and was a facilitator during the final days of apartheid.
He feels it will help if the name of former president Nelson Mandela finds its way on to the map.
He wants the 3149metre Cathkin Peak, known in isiZulu as Mdedelolo, to become Mount Mandela - or at least to have the name Mandela incorporated into it.
"If there's such a Mandela icon one can in times of great trouble refer back to such leaders of the past whom we can honour," says Tungay, who now lives in Howick.
"And we can revert to being a rainbow nation because we aren't one now.
"I would think Mandela was above ordinary party politics."
While Tungay's proposal has not yet reached official channels, it has certainly prompted responses in letters to the editor in his town's newspaper, Village Talk.
A member of the Zunckel family - a name associated with the mountain range - asks Tungay to "please leave the naming of the peaks in our beloved berg alone".
He fails to find any reference to Mandela in his research about the mountains, whether climbing the berg or assisting with rescues.
But Tungay says Madiba was guest of honour at a music concert attended by 300 people on a piece of flat ground near the summit of Cathkin Peak in 1995.
Mandela, support staff, three choirs and other guests reached the spot by helicopter. The on-site tuning of a piano at such high altitude was even submitted to the Guinness Book of Records.
Tungay was not there himself, but Bunny Ashley-Botha, former director of music at the Drakensberg Boys' Choir School, was present.
"Mandela wanted to meet all the performers and kitchen staff. They all lined up to meet this wonderful man on top of the mountain overlooking KwaZulu-Natal," he said.
Letter writer Martin Winter said: "It would be unwise to set a precedent of renaming Drakensberg peaks after prominent South Africans no matter how great their services might have been."
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos