Cape Town International Airport to be renamed after Nelson Mandela

NEWSWATCH: Airports Company SA has announced that Cape Town International Airport will be renamed but, despite Julius Malema's suggestion, not after Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.

By Ilse van den Berg

16 Apr 2018

Tomorrow I am going to Cape Town, I will be landing at Winnie Mandela airport formerly Cape Town airport #WinnieMandelaAirport #WinnieMandelaFuneral pic.twitter.com/7LtRgMgzqA
— Azania Afrika (@SAYoungLion) April 14, 2018

According to reports, Airports Company SA (Acsa) spokesperson Deidre Davids said Transport Minister Blade Nzimande had directed the company to facilitate the process of changing the airport’s name to Nelson Mandela International Airport to honour the country’s icon.

Cape Town International Airport IS to be renamed - but not after #WinnieMandela @CapeTimesSA @FrancescaJaneV https://t.co/dd2sZswX7e
— IOL News (@IOL) April 16, 2018

Said Davids: “The renaming of the airport will follow a due process. Key to this will be following all statutory requirements and a series of stakeholder engagements, including a public participation process."

'Acsa confirms that Nzimande directed the company on 22 March 2018 to facilitate the process of changing the name of Cape Town International Airport to Nelson Mandela International Airport,' Davids said.

A report on IOL states that the Department of Transport spokesperson Ishmael Mnisi said the renaming was in keeping with the centenary celebrations of the late statesman, and there had been consultations over the name since the start of the year.

Apart from Nelson and Winnie Mandela, among the other liberation icons on the list to be considered were Albertina Sisulu and Robert Sobukwe. Some South Africans, strangely, don't seem satisfied with the decision and have subsequently started a petition to reconsider the naming:

Cyril Ramaphosa: Rename Cape Town airport to Winnie Madikizela Mandela airport ! Best way to honour her - Sign the Petition! https://t.co/8be97278Wf via @Change
— Gaximvubu (@ThandoKaye) April 16, 2018

PS. Can people please now learn the difference between real and #fakenews?

I love South Africa, Cape Town International Airport is now officially Winnie Madikizela-Mandela International Airport #WinnieMandelaFuneral pic.twitter.com/NmYlFaLUkd
— Hennessey (@Hennie_rsa) April 14, 2018

Sources:

Ilse Burger

About Ilse van den Berg

Ilse is a freelance journalist and editor with a passion for people & their stories (check out Passing Stories). She is also the editor of Go & Travel, a platform connecting all the stakeholders in the travel & tourism industry. You can check out her work here and here. Contact Ilse through her website here.