Brett Herron says Desmond Tutu and Helen Zille backed the move, council to have the final say

Naming Committee recommends renaming of Table Bay Boulevard

The City of Cape Town's Naming Committee this morning, 14 January 2015, recommended to the City's Council that Table Bay Boulevard be renamed after former president FW de Klerk. Read more below:

The proposed renaming of Table Bay Boulevard in honour of former president FW de Klerk received overwhelming support during a comprehensive and city-wide public participation process.

This process took place over a 30-day period from 1 to 31 October 2014, during which residents, role players, interested parties and community organisations were invited to air their views.

‘We are encouraged by the number of residents who participated in the public consultation process. Although the public consultation process is not a referendum and therefore not about numbers, we do note that the overwhelming majority of those who participated supported the renaming proposal. The Naming Committee has now recommended to the Executive Mayor and Council that Table Bay Boulevard be renamed to FW de Klerk Boulevard. Ultimately it is Council that is responsible for the final decision,' said the Chairperson of the City's Naming Committee, Councillor Brett Herron.

This recommendation follows from a written request sent by prominent residents of Cape Town to Mayor De Lille and the City Council in June last year, to rename the first section of the N1 freeway from Cape Town to FW de Klerk Boulevard.

The 27 signatories, inclusive of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and Western Cape Premier Helen Zille, motivated that it is opportune for the City to recognise the pivotal role played by former president FW de Klerk in the transition to a new dispensation in South Africa.

Mr De Klerk received the Nobel Peace Prize together with the late former president Nelson Mandela. Furthermore Mr De Klerk delivered his memorable 2 February speech 25 years ago in Parliament in Cape Town, paving the way for our first democratic elections in 1994.

‘This proposal complies with the City's Naming Policy which states that citizens of Cape Town and South Africa may be considered in their lifetime if they have received international recognition of the highest kind. Mr De Klerk clearly falls within this category and the FW de Klerk Foundation has also confirmed that Mr De Klerk is in favour of such a decision if a street with a neutral name is to be renamed after him,' said Councillor Herron.

Statement issued by Councillor Brett Herron, Chairperson: Naming Committee, City of Cape Town, January 14 2015

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