Ramaphosa steps in over Sandton Drive name change

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2025-03-20 at 18:49 #464179

Nat Quinn
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President Cyril Ramaphosa will intervene in the ANC’s ongoing push in Gauteng to change the name of Sandton Drive to Leila Khaled Drive.

Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya notified the media of the invention on Thursday (20 March), saying that the national government will step in and engage with the City of Johannesburg through the Department of International Relations and Cooperation.

He said that while the government is mandated to change the names of roads to “reflect and set apart the new dispensation from the old one”, the Sandton Drive issue carries very sensitive diplomatic ties.

This is because the United States Consulate is located at 1 Sandton Drive.

The United States is a strong ally of Israel, and Leila Khaled—the ANC’s favoured replacement namesake for the road—is a Palestinian freedom fighter.

Khaled is a controversial former Palestinian militant and member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).

She gained prominence after her role in the TWA Flight 840 hijacking in 1969 and one of the four simultaneous Dawson’s Field hijackings the following year.

She was imprisoned for the hijackings but was released in a prisoner exchange for civilian hostages kidnapped by other PFLP members.

The ANC is an ally to Palestine. Since the 1950s, the party has enjoyed strong ties with the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO).

However, changing Sandton Drive to Leila Khaled Drive would likely be seen by the United States as an insult. There is a view that this is the intention of the name change.

The ANC’s first deputy secretary general, Nomvula Mokonyane, has given this credence, being quoted as saying, “We want the United States of America embassy to change their letterhead to Number 1 Leila Khaled Drive.”

Please don’t make things worse

Magwenya said the situation was diplomatically sensitive and the president wants to avoid fanning the flames.

“We recognise the diplomatic sensitivities in renaming Sandton Drive, particularly with the United States of America,” Magwenya said.

“The purpose of the talks with the City of Johannesburg is to agree to a process for the national executive to manage the diplomatic tensions with the US without enflaming the situation.”

The push to change the name of Sandton Drive has emanated from ANC structures within the City of Johannesburg and the party at large for years.

Last year, the ANC in the City of Joburg Council, supported by the EFF, proposed renaming Sandton Drive to Leila Khaled Drive.

Last week, the Joburg council voted against a motion by the Democratic Alliance to rescind the renaming.

Some parties voting to dismiss the motion said it was unnecessary as the plans to rename Sandton Drive had already been halted.

While the initial motion to rename Sandton Drive had been pushed through the council, parties could not find consensus on what it should be changed to.

There have also been issues confirming public support for the change, with many residents in the area—directly impacted by the change—being vehemently against the move.

Regardless, the national executive is now getting directly involved.

Magwenya said that the president is acutely aware of the strained relationship with the United States, and has urged political parties to refrain from exacerbating the issue.

This is also true for parties looking to organise rallies or gatherings to welcome back expelled US ambassador Ebrahim Rasool, Magwenya said.

Rasool was declared persona non grata last week after accusing US President Donald Trump of leading a global supremacist movement in a webinar. He is expected back in the country by the end of this week.

“We would like to urge all political formations that are planning various homecoming rallies for Ambassador Rasool to assist us and refrain from engaging in action that may seem inflammatory and may worsen the already volatile relationship with the United States,” Magwenya said.

source:Ramaphosa steps in over Sandton Drive name change – BusinessTech
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President Cyril Ramaphosa will intervene in the ANC’s ongoing push in Gauteng to change the name of Sandton Drive to Leila Khaled Drive.

Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya notified the media of the invention on Thursday (20 March), saying that the national government will step in and engage with the City of Johannesburg through the Department of International Relations and Cooperation.

He said that while the government is mandated to change the names of roads to “reflect and set apart the new dispensation from the old one”, the Sandton Drive issue carries very sensitive diplomatic ties.

This is because the United States Consulate is located at 1 Sandton Drive.

The United States is a strong ally of Israel, and Leila Khaled—the ANC’s favoured replacement namesake for the road—is a Palestinian freedom fighter.

Khaled is a controversial former Palestinian militant and member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).

She gained prominence after her role in the TWA Flight 840 hijacking in 1969 and one of the four simultaneous Dawson’s Field hijackings the following year.

She was imprisoned for the hijackings but was released in a prisoner exchange for civilian hostages kidnapped by other PFLP members.

The ANC is an ally to Palestine. Since the 1950s, the party has enjoyed strong ties with the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO).

However, changing Sandton Drive to Leila Khaled Drive would likely be seen by the United States as an insult. There is a view that this is the intention of the name change.

The ANC’s first deputy secretary general, Nomvula Mokonyane, has given this credence, being quoted as saying, “We want the United States of America embassy to change their letterhead to Number 1 Leila Khaled Drive.”

Please don’t make things worse

Magwenya said the situation was diplomatically sensitive and the president wants to avoid fanning the flames.

“We recognise the diplomatic sensitivities in renaming Sandton Drive, particularly with the United States of America,” Magwenya said.

“The purpose of the talks with the City of Johannesburg is to agree to a process for the national executive to manage the diplomatic tensions with the US without enflaming the situation.”

The push to change the name of Sandton Drive has emanated from ANC structures within the City of Johannesburg and the party at large for years.

Last year, the ANC in the City of Joburg Council, supported by the EFF, proposed renaming Sandton Drive to Leila Khaled Drive.

Last week, the Joburg council voted against a motion by the Democratic Alliance to rescind the renaming.

Some parties voting to dismiss the motion said it was unnecessary as the plans to rename Sandton Drive had already been halted.

While the initial motion to rename Sandton Drive had been pushed through the council, parties could not find consensus on what it should be changed to.

There have also been issues confirming public support for the change, with many residents in the area—directly impacted by the change—being vehemently against the move.

Regardless, the national executive is now getting directly involved.

Magwenya said that the president is acutely aware of the strained relationship with the United States, and has urged political parties to refrain from exacerbating the issue.

This is also true for parties looking to organise rallies or gatherings to welcome back expelled US ambassador Ebrahim Rasool, Magwenya said.

Rasool was declared persona non grata last week after accusing US President Donald Trump of leading a global supremacist movement in a webinar. He is expected back in the country by the end of this week.

“We would like to urge all political formations that are planning various homecoming rallies for Ambassador Rasool to assist us and refrain from engaging in action that may seem inflammatory and may worsen the already volatile relationship with the United States,” Magwenya said.

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