Chairperson, 

My colleague, the Hon M J Bhengu MP, was yesterday unexpectedly called away to attend to a matter of national interest and I am therefore honoured to speak in his place today. 

I want to concentrate on just one issue today that is fundamental to our history and the culture of one of our proudest population groups. But, I want to stress that my remarks also apply equally to all South African cultural groups who hold their history and heritage very dear. 

South African place names reflect our history, cultures and in many respects our heritage. Changing existing place names must therefore be approached in the most sensitive way possible so as not to demean, belittle or deny any aspect of our past history.  

Just recently at the launch of the Social Cohesion Campaign, the Hon. Minister of Arts and Culture, said the process of changing place names should promote nation-building and should be handled in the most sensitive manner.  

The IFP fully agrees with the Minister on this sentiment. 

The Hon Minister also said that the process of changing place names should accommodate all sections of the population and he promised public hearings to test the feelings of our people. 

The Minister said, and I quote: 

"This should provide a platform for proper, effective consultation and communication within and among communities and make all three tiers of government more conversant with public opinion on the issue" 

The Minister further said that although the renaming had to be representative of the country's heritage, landscape and struggle heroes, it had to be done with the utmost sensitivity. 

The IFP cannot agree more with the Minister. The process and sensitivity he describes is exactly what we have been calling for in the renaming saga. 

But, it appears to the IFP that the Minister's colleagues in the ANC, especially in Durban, have not heard him or do not understand what he was talking about. These rogue elements in the ANC are forging ahead as if they have the right to rename anything without proper consultation or without taking into account the history and sensitivity around certain names. 

History is history and no amount of re-writing or revision will ever change that. But, that is exactly what the ANC in Durban wants to do by changing existing names to reflect only their history or heroes.  

Their decision to change the Mangosuthu Highway in Umlazi to Griffiths Mxenge smacks of myopia and vindictiveness. 

This is a glaring example of the ANC attempting to undermine the achievements of Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi MP by ignoring his legitimate claims to have contributed positively to development and progress in KwaZulu-Natal.  

Although we agree that in some instances name changes are necessary, we are angered by the ANC's decision to change the names of the Mangosuthu Highway and the Princess Magogo Stadium. 

The President of the IFP, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, after whom the Mangosuthu Highway is named, played a key role for almost half a century in the fight against apartheid and ultimately played a leading role in the liberation of South Africa. It will be remembered that it was Prince Buthelezi who steadfastly called for the release of Nelson Mandela. 

Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi and his mother, Princess Magogo, have both brought considerable local and international recognition to our country and made vast contributions to the province of KwaZulu-Natal over many decades. 

It is unthinkable then that our ruling party would ignore the contributions of these two great South Africans by forging ahead with the changes against the will of many citizens of the province.  

What is just as absurd is the renaming of Kingsway road to Andrew Zondo - the MK operative who planted a bomb at the Sanlam Centre in 1985 killing several civilians. Even his family has objected to their son's name being used by the ANC in naming the street! 

It is clear that the Durban metro council is targeting the IFP by playing political games. And it is clear that their street-renaming project has got nothing to do with honouring the heroes of our struggle for freedom, but that it has got everything to do with twisting history to suit their own political agenda.

The renaming of the streets of Durban will without a doubt re-open old wounds from the past and therefore the IFP vows to fight back so that we can have street names that truly reflect our rich culture and history. 

As a party we will continue to protest. We will even take our fight to the highest courts if need be. The ANC's autocratic practices cannot be allowed in a democratic South Africa. 

The IFP urges the ANC to approach the renaming of streets and places with the utmost caution and sensitivity, and to place the values of ubuntu first and foremost when contentious decisions have to be made. 

The IFP also want to say to the Hon Minister that he should get his colleagues in the ANC, especially in Durban, to start listening to him when he speaks of nation-building and handling name changes with the utmost sensitivity. They should set their small-mindedness aside and concentrate on the bigger picture of solidarity, social cohesion and unity in diversity - principles the IFP will always uphold. 

Thank you.
 

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
Mr Velaphi Ndlovu MP 
0836250803