According to an article published in the Mail & Guardian online, Jo'burg street names are to go green:
"The naming and renaming of streets and public places in Johannesburg should be after flora and fauna and not people, according to the city's new naming policy released on Monday.
Anyone who wants a place named after a person will have to provide a detailed motivation, including a profile of the person and why he or she is worthy of the honour."
Excellent idea. I wonder how many words we have for "dagga" or "weed" in eleven official languages?
The article goes on to say:
"Recently, Hans Strijdom Drive, a main road running through Randburg and crossing the N1, was renamed Malibongwe Drive.
"Malibongwe" means "to give praise". "Malibongwe igama lamakhosikazi [Praise the women's voice]" was a slogan normally used by women during apartheid protest marches and gatherings.
Johannesburg Development Agency head Lael Bethlehem said earlier this year that the new street name would still remind South Africans of Strijdom as the slogan was used in protest against his government.
Hendrik Verwoerd Drive in Randburg also has a new name: Bram Fischer Drive, after the anti-apartheid activist."
In that vein, I guess we could use the names of flauna and fauna that remind us of prominent people, like "Beetroot" to remind us of Manto? (Lest we forget.) Mind you, one could name a whole zone of streets after her ...."Cane Street", "Barley", "Hopst", "Marula" ...
I like it. I shall ponder the Flora and Fauna of our democracy with glee.
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