Cape Town - Indigenous Khoisan groups calling for Cape Town International Airport to be renamed Krotoa Airport have expressed frustration at Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa for not showing up to their event.
Mthethwa was a no-show at an event held at the Castle of Good Hope on Tuesday to receive a memorandum calling for the airport name change, despite an invitation, the groups said.
Krotoa was a Khoisan woman who worked as a servant in Jan van Riebeeck’s household. It is reported that she excelled in the Dutch setting and eventually became Van Riebeeck’s translator, which later made her instrumental in working out terms for ending the first Dutch-Khoi war in the Cape.
The indigenous communities say they believe renaming the airport will also be a fitting gesture from the government that they embrace the indigenous people of the country.
Krotoa Foundation director Benjamin Marsala said Krotoa does not only represent the Khoi and the San, but represents all women of South Africa.
“Krotoa is an important name. We feel very disappointed in the lack of action from government. We understand that as the first indigenous generation we are not in charge, and the government will make things difficult for us. But we can’t stop and we will continue until justice is done… Irrespective of how things will turn out for us,” he said.
Marsala said they will be rolling out a peaceful action campaign until their voices are heard.
Chief Josh Samuels from the Knoflokskraal settlement in the Elgin-Grabouw Valley said: “Krotoa was a very active woman in society and she needs to be remembered and honoured. Renaming the airport will also help us on the path of restoration of our culture and heritage. We won’t stop until we reach this goal. We are used to being rejected, that is the story of our life. But we will keep on knocking on the door. Indigenous communities needs to be acknowledged and recognised,” said Samuels.
Chairperson of civil society organisation Cape Forum, Heindrich Wyngaard, said it remains a “shame” that Krotoa was still not honoured.
“I am in support of icons from the indigenous communities of the Cape being honoured in the way that the Krotoa Foundation is lobbying for. It remains a shame that it is not being done, even now that we are nearing three decades of democracy – and in this regard the finger is pointed at both the national ANC-led government and the provincial DA-led administration,” he said.
The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture did not respond to questions by deadline.