Main Reef Road or Albertina Sisulu Road? That is the question.
More than a year has passed since the R24 has been renamed to Albertina Sisulu Road in October last year, but there is still no sign of the renaming process in Krugersdorp.
The neighbouring Roodepoort changed the name last year when it was announced that the longest road in Gauteng would be renamed to the South African anti-apartheid activist Albertina Sisulu.
A resident posted her dismay on a facebook group page last week after realising the name had changed, saying she wanted to give someone directions to her house when she saw on Google Maps that Main Reef Road now bears the name of Albertina Sisulu Road.
At the time president Jacob Zuma unveiled the road network, which stretches from OR Tambo International Airport (Ekurhuleni), through the Johannesburg central business district, to Roodepoort and Mogale City straight to the border between Gauteng and the North West provinces. The ceremony was held in the Chief Mogale Hall in Kagiso.
Ministers, ward councillors, mayors, the then Gauteng premier Nomvula Mokonyane and family members of Sisulu were present during the official renaming ceremony to which members of the public were invited. It was described as a fitting tribute to Sisulu who passed away in June 2011.
Although Main Reef Road and subsequent names of the R24 have been published as Albertina Sisulu Road in the media, many residents of this area are in the dark as to whether the name now is Albertina Sisulu Road as there is no signage to indicate the name change.
Christo Peyper, caucus leader for the DA in Mogale City said although there is still no signage the renaming process was published in the Government Gazette, which made it official.
Councillor Amanda de Lange from the Freedom Front Plus said as far as her understanding goes the Mogale City Local Municipality (MCLM) is responsible for renaming in their area.
Nkosana Zali, the municipal spokesperson could not be reached for comment. A voicemail message was left asking him to return the journalist’s call.
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• Is this road paved with good intentions?
• President Zuma joins tribute of R24 renaming
