Transcript by Yumna Moosa

The city of Ekurhuleni has announced plans to rename Gilloly’s interchange (the busiest interchange in Africa), after anti-apartheid activist George Bezos. Chairperson of the Gauteng’s Geographical Names Committee, Sheena Satikge, speaks to Radio Islam about this.

The chairperson says, what led to the discussion of the name change was  part of the organizations mandate to transform the heritage landscape through the renaming of geographic features while also ensuring that these features are done in a standard and uniformed way. She also adds that this is important in affirming the country’s history and national identity.

While the party can’t outwardly suggest name changes on their own, they do communicate that suggestions and submissions for name changes are always welcome. She states, “we (Gauteng’s Geographical Name Committee) await submissions so that we can transform our heritage, so our future generations and children can live in spaces they can relate to. It’s so that they have the sense of belonging while driving on a road or going up a mountain – knowing that they can relate to a person apart of history.”

The process of the name change has not been finalized, but could be concluded before the end of the year.

Listen to the full interview on the Radio Islam International SoundCloud.