Cape Town International Airport

Cape Town International Airport set for a name change

Plans already in place to rename Cape Town International Airport.

Cape Town International Airport

EFF leader, Julius Malema’s call for the renaming of Cape Town International Airport (CTIA) sparked a great debate over the weekend, and according to IOL, a name change is on the cards.

Delivering an eulogy at late struggle stalwart, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s funeral held in Soweto on Saturday, Malema threw down the gauntlet as he suggested that the airport be renamed to take the name of the anti-Apartheid icon.

Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) spokesperson, Deidre Davids revealed that there is already a process in place to rename the airport – but it will be named after another Mandela – following a directive from Minister of Transport, Blade Nzimande to rename it to Nelson Mandela International Airport.

 

‘‘Acsa confirms that the honourable Minister of Transport, Dr BE Nzimande, directed the company on March 22, 2018 to facilitate the process of changing the name of Cape Town International Airport to Nelson Mandela International Airport,” Davids said.

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This is keeping in line with the late statesman’s centenary celebrations and according to Department of Transport spokesperson Ishmael Mnisi, Madikizela-Mandela’s name was considered, as well as those of Robert Sobukwe and Albertina Sisulu.

“While the Department of Transport, with the Department of Arts and Culture, is still in the consultation process, Minister Blade Nzimande believes that it is important that such an important airport of national, regional and international significance should be named after one of our liberation icons who fought tirelessly against white supremacy and apartheid,” Mnisi told the publication.

According to Nzimande, Government will work to ensure that the consultation process is sped up and concluded within the next few months.

Malema’s challenge to government was welcomed by many, causing a great deal of excitement which went as far as the airport’s Wikipedia page being edited to reflect his call.

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