P Jordan: Johannesburg International Airport

31 August 2006

Here on the African continent we are faced with the challenge of furthering
the social and economic development of Africa. Ours is the second largest
continent on earth, spanning a vast expanse the earth’s territory from the
Mediterranean in the north to Cape Agulhas in the south. That the continent is
culturally diverse is readily recognised. Less evident is the role that culture
can play in nurturing social cohesion, conflict prevention and promoting human
security. Culture has an important place in the developmental agenda of the
continent.

The development of a sound, forward-looking cultural policy for South Africa
necessarily must take account of the cross-cutting character of culture,
affecting all spheres of government activity.

The international Convention on cultural diversity, adopted by the United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) General
Assembly in 2005, defines cultural diversity as: “the multiplicity and
interaction of cultural expressions that co-exist in the world and thus enrich
the common heritage of humanity”.

A group of independent experts set up by the Director-General of UNESCO
defined it as “the manifold ways in which the cultures of social groups and
societies find expression”.

In other words, far from separating us, humanity’s cultural diversity is our
collective strength, which should benefit the entire world. In this sense, it
should be recognised and affirmed as the “common heritage” of humanity.

This human family of ours has over the ages built up a huge fund of
knowledge and experiences that have been shared amongst us in a myriad of ways.
No section or portion of the human family can therefore claim to be the
exclusive repository of wisdom, knowledge, valid experience and worth. We all
have something to teach to others; we all have learnt from others; we all have
been enriched by such interaction with others; and, what is more, it is
precisely that capacity to teach, to learn and to be enriched by such exchanges
that makes us human.

We here in South Africa, are perhaps more fortunate than others in that our
country and our nation is, in and of itself, racially, culturally, religiously
and linguistically diverse. Whereas in the past, under the regimes of
colonialism, “White supremacy with justice” to use the rather absurd
formulation of Jan Smuts, and apartheid, such diversity was regarded and
treated as problematic, as something to be denied and vigorously repressed by
legislation and by force of arms, since 1996, through and in our democratic
constitution, we have recognised our diversity as one aspect of South Africa’s
great strength. It is something we should nurture, something we should actively
promote and applaud.

When promoting South Africa as a tourism destination we proudly proclaim “A
World in One Country”! And we are absolutely right to do that. We speak of the
different hues, sounds, faiths and modes of expression one finds in our country
as the diverse threads of a beautiful tapestry.

The legislation in question, The South African Geographical Names Council
Act of 1998, was passed by parliament as an act of affirmation; an act to
affirm precisely the cultural diversity of South Africa, born of the
recognition that in the past, that we all regret but nonetheless have to
recognise as part of the South African reality, there had been a conscious
effort to deny that diversity through various acts of commission and
omission.

I think all honourable members are aware that one of the founding myths of
the apartheid ideology was that South Africa was an empty land: that is that
before the 1400s no one, other than the Khoikhoi and the San lived in South
Africa; that otherwise this was a land devoid of people. Historians,
archaeologists and demographers have more than amply demonstrated the falsity
of that claim. I will not bother to enter into that debate.

What is demonstrably true is that literally thousands of geographical names
were imposed on the country by the colonial powers who governed South Africa
and portions of it over the last three and half centuries. They did this
without regard to the pre-existing names, let alone the sensibilities of the
indigenous people, who in most instances continued to use the original names.
There are also the numerous instances where colonial administrators misheard
indigenous names, but notwithstanding imposed their misconstruction of those
names. There are some places that were renamed to celebrate the military
victories of White settlers over African armies, some to memorialise European
kings and queens, some to celebrate colonial governors and soldiers.

And then, there are places that were renamed, and given names that are
offensive.

In the renaming of geographical features and places all these matters were
taken into account: the diversity of our society, the integrity of our
languages, the sensibilities of our people, and, sometimes just plain common
sense.

The proposed name change of the Johannesburg International Airport was done
in terms of an Act of Parliament: The South African Geographical Names Council
Act, of 1998.

The preamble to the enabling legislation reads:

“To establish a permanent advisory body known as the South African
Geographical Names Council to advise the Minister responsible for arts and
culture on the transformation and standardisation of geographical names in
South Africa for official purposes; to determine its objects, functions and
methods of work; and to provide for matters connected therewith.”

The relevant passage, Clause 10, of the law reads:

“10 Approval and revision of geographical names

(1) The Minister may approve or reject a geographical name recommended by
the Council in terms of section 9 (1) (d).

(2) A geographical name approved or rejected by the Minister in terms of
subsection (1) must be published in the Gazette.

(3) Any person or body dissatisfied with a geographical name approved by the
Minister may, within one month from the date of publication of the geographical
name in the Gazette, lodge a complaint in writing to the Minister.

(4) The Minister may refer the complaint to the Council for advice whether
or not to reject or amend a geographical name so approved.

(5) The Minister must inform the complainant of the decision on the
complaint and the reasons for the decision.”

It is of paramount importance that those, especially the leaders of the
political parties who object to the changes in place names educate their
members, especially those serving in legislative bodies at national, provincial
and municipal levels, about the law and its provisions. It should be a cause of
embarrassment that we have to educate parliamentarians about laws that they had
a hand in passing on the content and meaning of those laws.

I want all honourable members to note, that as the law stands, it is not the
Minister who initiates or sets in motion changes of geographical names. The
Minister receives recommendations from other bodies, empowered by this law, to
propose those changes. Having satisfied her/himself that the provisions of the
law have been conformed with, the Minister may approve or reject a proposed
name change.

In this instance, the proposal by the Ekurhuleni Metro Council that the name
of the Johannesburg International Airport, be changed to the OR Tambo Airport,
I am satisfied that every provision of the law had been followed. The process
commenced in that municipal council in 2003. It was debated in the council
chamber, with arguments for and against, tabled. There was a testing of public
opinion by the relevant local authority and their proposal was forwarded to the
South African Geographical Names Council. They then sent that, together with a
number of others published in the government gazette, some two months ago to my
office.

Today I am formally announcing that I am approving the name change. The name
of the Johannesburg International Airport will be changed to OR Tambo
International Airport. After consultations with the Ministry of Transport, a
formal naming ceremony will be performed, hopefully to coincide with the late
OR Tambo’s birthday on 27 October.

In closing, Madame Deputy Speaker, I can do no better than to quote the
words of Prince Emeka Anyaoku, former Secretary of the Commonwealth:

“Oliver Reginald Kaizana Tambo’s place in history is secure. He was a great
South African and an even greater son of Africa. More than this, he belonged to
all humanity. As he himself said, the campaign against apartheid was humanity’s
own cause; and by playing such a pre-eminent leadership role in the defeat of
this evil system, he contributed decisively to the removal of one of the
greatest blots on our common humanity. That was what made his life such a
blessing and a benefaction.”

By honouring Oliver Tambo in this way, we honour what is best in all of
us.

For further details, please call:
Sandile Memela,
Spokesperson for Ministry of Arts & Culture
Cell: 082 800 3750

Issued by: Department of Arts and Culture
31 August 2006

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