Hendrik Verwoerd Drive

Staff Writer

CAPETONIANS have until the end of March to submit their comments for or against the proposed renaming of several streets in Cape Town.

The City of Cape Town has advertised the series of proposed new street names in newspapers, asking for public comment.

A naming committee was convened last year under the chairmanship of the city’s mayoral committee member for transport, roads and stormwater, Brett Herron, to manage naming and renaming of streets, buildings and public places in the city.

This committee will look at new name change proposals, as well as a series of suggested name changes from previous years.

“In 2007 the city received a set of 31 proposed new names, of which four have been implemented,” Herron said.

“We invite the public to comment on the remaining 27 name changes before a proposal is made to council.”

The proposed 27 name changes will be subjected to a public participation process and public meetings will be held to inform people about the thinking behind the proposed names, and to offer residents the opportunity to comment.

Seven of the streets proposed for renaming cut across multiple sub-councils and wards, affecting a city-wide target group, and require a more rigorous public participation process. The streets are:

l Hendrik Verwoerd Drive.

l Jip de Jager Street.

l Vanguard Drive.

l Lansdowne Road.

l Jan Smuts Drive.

l NY1 in Gugulethu.

l Willie van Schoor Drive.

Herron said: “The process to change street names will be as inclusive as possible.

“We will distribute localised pamphlets in every street where a name change is proposed, and provide as much information on the process as possible.

“If anyone is directly affected by a street name change, we want to give them the chance to comment.”

Public meetings are scheduled for March 6, 13, 20 and 27 at venues across the city. All comments must be submitted by March 31 and include a motivation for or against the renaming proposals.

l For more information on the process visit www.capetown.gov.za/naming.