- The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality officially unveiled new street names in four major routes in Gqeberha.
- The unveiling took place on Wednesday, November 29, and started on Strand Street, in Gqeberha’s Central Business District, where renowned freedom fighter, the late Steve Biko’s name was unveiled as the name to replace Strand Street.
- Biko’s name was proposed for the renaming of Strand Street by Azapo, as he was tortured inside the “Sanlam Building” in Strand Street, before he was transported naked in a security van to Pretoria in 1977.
Following an extensive and successful democratic process, the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality officially unveiled new street names in four major routes in Gqeberha.
This comes after all required steps were followed according to the South African Geographic Names Council Act (118 of 1998) and the NMBM naming and renaming policy.
The unveiling took place on Wednesday, November 29, and started on Strand Street, in Gqeberha’s Central Business District, where renowned freedom fighter, the late Steve Biko’s name was unveiled as the name to replace Strand Street.
Biko’s name was proposed for the renaming of Strand Street by Azapo, as he was tortured inside the “Sanlam Building” in Strand Street, before he was transported naked in a security van to Pretoria in 1977.
NMBM Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture Mayoral Committee Member, councillor Bassie Kamana, said that renaming the four streets, and naming the new Ward 17 swimming pool, was part of the metro’s work to deliver what NMBM residents want in their communities.
“It is our mandate to redress past disparities, and facilitate social cohesion. We are here today to deliver on an extensive consultative process that started some five years ago, to celebrate our heroes following council’s approval of the new names,” he said.
The five unveiled names are:
- Strand Street was renamed Steve Biko Street
- Avenue E Street (New Brighton) renamed Sizwe Kondile Street
- Ferguson Road (New Brighton) renamed George Pemba Road
- Aggrey Street (New Brighton) renamed Nomhle Nkonyeni Street
- New Ward 17 swimming pool named Thozamile Cecil Magqabi swimming pool.
“Our metro has a rich history, and our residents want to see their representation in their communities. We are responsible for ensuring that the names of these great men and women who contributed immensely to our Bay are celebrated and that their names live on. Everyone knows the late Sis Nomhle; she is one of the greatest theatrical actors South Africa has produced. President Ramaphosa even bestowed her with the National Order of Ikhamanga for her outstanding role in Arts.
Kamana added,
Sizwe Kondile, highlighted as an unsung hero of the struggle, left the country to pursue a democratic South Africa. He joined Umkhonto Wesizwe in Lesotho and worked closely with Chris Hani, the Chief of Staff of the ANC’s Military Wing. The Apartheid Security Force abducted him, and he was later murdered for his refusal to co-operate during interrogations.
The new swimming pool in Ward 17 was named after Thozamile Celil Magqabi, born in the Red Location area. He was active in the politics of the struggle in the 1950s, and was a member of the ANC Youth League.
“He was one of the activists who was arrested and detained on Robben Island. Even after his release from prison, he continued working with the likes of Oom Henry Fazzie, Oom Edgar Ngoyi and many others at the height of the repressive State of Emergency. He served his country with flying colours,” said Kamana.
Family representatives who attended the unveiling welcomed the move and thanked NMBM for the honour.
“On behalf of the Nkonyeni family, we are honoured by this gesture from NMBM, as our mother was born and bred in the streets of New Brighton. She inspired so many people from the township to take up the arts, and it is up to us who are left behind to ensure that whatever seed she planted prospers, so we can have other Nomhles who will lift the NMB name around the world,” said Nkonyeni’s son, Teboho Nkonyeni.
