City plans to rename landmarks after late councillors
JOBURG – MMC for Community Development is in full support of such women being recognised by the City in this manner.
City to rename important landmarks in memory of late councillors Connie Bapela and Suzanne Clarke.
Speaker of Council Nonceba Molwele was pleased to announce that the City of Johannesburg council passed motions to rename the new Council Chambers and Caroline Street Retirement Village after two remarkable woman leaders.
According to a City statement, Molwele recently hosted a virtual discussion on the topic, ‘Honouring the legacy of former great women leaders of the Johannesburg City Council,’ where she and attendees reflected on the immense contributions both the late Connie Bapela and Suzanne Clarke made in the City. The engagement was also attended by the husband of the late Connie Bapela, the Deputy Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Obed Bapela and their two children along with Gauteng Legislature Chair of Chairs Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane.
The motion passed by the City Council gave the green light to rename the new Council Chambers after Connie Bapela while the Caroline Street Retirement Village will be renamed after the late councillor Clarke. Molwele said the transparency of the Chambers Council in its design represents openness and accountability, some of the attributes which she felt described councillor Connie Bapela.
She added, “Mama Connie was very passionate about public participation and the new Council Chambers is indeed open to the public, which is a reminder of who Sis Connie was. She was a hard worker, a graceful, beautiful and authentic African leader who was indeed orderly, transparent and committed to the transformation of the people of Johannesburg and a beacon of hope to many, especially women.”
The late councillor Clarke was equally hailed for her efforts and commitments to the people of Johannesburg right through her long battles with cancer until 2019. MMC for Community Development Margaret Arnolds described Clarke as someone who lived her life to serve others whenever she got the opportunity.
“The late councillor Clarke believed that the youth must be motivated to be in high positions. She drew her inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of ‘Be the change you wish to see in the world’. She wanted to make the change in the world.”
Arnolds is in full support of such women being recognised in this manner for dedicating their lives to the betterment of people.
