MBOMBELA – The past is the past, but it still happened, and willy-nilly attacks on memorials and statues will not be tolerated. This was the response by premier Mr David Mabuza during an oral answering session in legislature on May 19 to questions on transformation posed to him by ANC MPL, Mr William Madibeng.
“As a province we support the transformation agenda to ensure our institutions and symbols reinforce the values of our democratic order. This must happen within the confines of the law.”
Mabuza explained that the Department of Culture, Sport and Recreation had not received any formal request or application to remove the huge bust of Paul Kruger at the gate to the Kruger National Park (KNP). But Mr Collen Sedibe, provincial leader of the EFF, said in a follow-up that the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport’s (KMIA) name should perhaps also be changed.
Mabuza said the airport was privately owned.
Mr Marius Nel, CEO of KMIA, said the suggestion to change the airport’s name was the first of its kind.
“A few years ago the government was in negotiations with the previous owners to buy the airport. And even then such a suggestion hadn’t been made.”
Mabuza added that changing symbols would not change anything. The naming of the individual buildings housing provincial departments and the name of the Riverside Government Complex was currently under consideration. The process was expected to be concluded by the end of the current financial year.
