DA can’t stop street name changes – court
2 July 2007
The eThekwini Municipality has prevailed in opposing an urgent High Court application by DA caucus leader John Steenhuisen to halt the renaming of more than 180 key streets and buildings across greater Durban.
Now, according to a report in The Witness, it seems the council only intends renaming between 30 and 40 streets and landmarks. ‘If that is the case, one has to ask why they put the city through so much pain over the past three months,’ Steenhuisen said.
The publication of a list of proposed new names in mid-April has not only led to heated arguments between political parties, but also saw residents take to the streets and petition the municipality to reconsider. City manager Michael Sutcliffe said the court had clearly respected the fact that, unlike in other major centres such as Cape Town, Durban’s was the most comprehensive and consultative process of all.
‘It is a great victory for democracy and an important part of building our new society can now go ahead,’ he said. No reasons were given for the ruling.
Full report in The Witness