William Nicol Drive set to be renamed in honour of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela

The Metropolis of Johannesburg is set to launch a public participation course in honour of the late Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.

The William Nicol Drive would be renamed after the ANC stalwart.

Johannesburg Mayor Geoff Makhubo introduced this on Saturday- the day that that ought to be Madikizela-Mandela’s 84th birthday- at an occasion on the Fourways Memorial where she was laid to rest in 2018.

“We’re on the Fourways Memorial on the Mandela Property to recollect and pay our respects to the freewoman of the Metropolis of Johannesburg, the late Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.”

“She would have been 84 years at this time and we thought, because the Metropolis of Johannesburg, to come back and pay our respects and formally launch the beginning of a public participation course of to rename William Nicol after a movement of council was handed a year and a half in the past with a view to honour Winnie Madikizela-Mandela,” Makhubo said.

The street to be renamed was named after Dutch Reformed minister and Transvaal administrator on the time of building, William Nicol.

However, the renaming was first introduced in October 2018, by then Gauteng MEC for transport Ismail Vadi.

Valdi said the name sought to advertise inclusivity.

“The names on our street and transport infrastructure could have a technical operation however authorities has a position to play in selling an inclusive id with such infrastructure,” Vadi said then.

“In so doing it ought to increase residents’ consciousness of the heroes and heroines that performed important roles within the nation’s battle towards apartheid and its individuals’ freedom.”

“The naming of the provincial street community doesn’t search to take away the previous however to advertise an id which is inclusive of all of the residents of the nation.”