In Focus

Renaming of public spaces is part of decolonisation, says Mancotywa

The CEO of the National Heritage Council, Adv. Sonwabile Mancotywa says the renaming of public spaces is important for decolonisation.

Mancotywa’s comments come after Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader, Julius Malema, announced during a prepared address at Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s funeral on 14 April 2018, that Cape Town International Airport should be named after the struggle icon.

Speaking to Political Analysis South Africa on Monday, 16 April 2018, Mancotywa said that the idea to rename the Cape Town International airport after Madikizela-Mandela is good, but that the EFF should follow the proper processes.

“As part of decolonisation of our public spaces it is important that our places should be changed to affirm the identity of the people…the majority which was excluded from public spaces,” he added.

He said that because the previous apartheid government tried to remove the identity of indigenous people from public spaces, and believes it is important to honour those who fought against the regime by naming public spaces after them.

Mancotywa also thinks that removing the names of people who represent “discredited ideologies” is important to unite the country. Adding that because South Africa is a democratic state, its public spaces need to represent democratic values.

“Those monuments are not in sync with the foundational values of our democratic state. This state is founded on reconciliation, founded on justice and redress so you’ve got to redress the imbalances of the public space,” he said.