President Jacob Zuma says the process of renaming buildings and streets is not meant to obliterate any part of the country’s history.
The President was speaking during the official renaming of his official Residence, “the Kings House” in Durban’s Morningside area. The Kings House will, from now onwards be known as Dr John L Dube House.
President Zuma has mentioned that this exercise is a form of symbolic reparations to address South Africa’s unjust past and contribute to an inclusive society. The President was joined by Dr John Langalibalele Dube’s last daughter Miss Lulu Dube as they unveiled the plaque.
“Through registering new names and changing others, we hope to build a country that all our people can call home, in which the majority does not feel alienated,” said the President. President Zuma also emphasised that it is only those who were in denial about atrocities perpetrated against indigenous populations, by colonial powers, who would think that the renaming processes are not necessary.
Speaking on behalf of the Dube family, Mr Langa Dube the grandson of Dr John Dube thanked the Government for recognizing the contribution made by his grandfather in the liberation struggle. The event was attended by the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal Dr Zweli Mkhize, as well as some members of his provincial Cabinet, Ministers and Deputy Ministers, Mayors, the DG in the presidency and his counterpart in the province Mr Nhlanhla Ngidi and many other dignitaries.
Premier Zweli Mkhize who was the programme director said the renaming of the Kings House reconnects with the province’s history. Dr Mkhize also gave a background of the Kings House. The Minister in the Presidency responsible for Monitoring and Evalaution Mr Collins Chabane thanked all those who attended the event for making history, as this was an historic day in the life of the country.
Minister Chabane said he will make sure that the names of all those who attended the event will be packaged and kept in the Dr John L Dube House as part of history.
President Zuma renames Kings House to Dr John Langalibalele Dube House in KwaZulu-Natal
