Airport's name to change
One of the images that surfaced on social media after the call to rename the Cape Town airport was made. Picture: Facebook One of the images that surfaced on social media after the call to rename the Cape Town airport was made. Picture: Facebook
Durban - CAPE Town International Airport would be renamed sooner rather than later, Transport Minister Blade Nzimande has said.
At a briefing in Parliament this week, Nzimande said a new name was being considered and “high up” on the list was the name of late statesman Nelson Mandela.
Airports Company SA, in a statement, said Nzimande had, on March 22, directed it to facilitate the process of changing the airport's name to Nelson Mandela International Airport.
The renaming of the airport will follow a due process, including statutory requirements and a series of stakeholder engagements, including a public participation process, Davids said.
Nzimande said the new name “could end up being one particular name, celebrating 100 years.”
At the start of the year the Nelson Mandela Foundation unveiled the “Nelson Mandela Centenary 2018 Be the Legacy” - a two-year programme to honour Mandela who would have turned 100 years old this year.
The programme has been crafted to provide opportunity for South Africa and the world to remember not just the personality of Mandela, but also what he stood for as a human being.
February 11, 2018 also marked 28 years since the release of Mandela from prison.
“There is no doubt the airport will have a new name, sooner rather than later.
“There are a number of names that have been put forward for the renaming of the airport,” Nzimande said.
“I must admit that we have started with consultations and the name that's high up is that of Nelson Mandela, but we will have to consider other names as well.”