Motlanthe backs renaming of road after De Klerk

[caption id="attachment_66660" align="alignright" width="300"] LOOKING BACK: Former president FW de Klerk, Dr Johann Rupert and IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi in Cape Town to mark the 25th anniversary of De Klerk's famous speechPicture: ADRIAN DE KOCK -[/caption]

Former president Kgalema Motlanthe yesterday backed the City of Cape Town’s decision to rename Table Bay Boulevard after the last white president, FW de Klerk.

He joined Rivonia triallist Ahmed Kathrada, former finance minister Trevor Manuel and other ANC luminaries in opposing Cape Town city council ANC leader Tony Ehrenreich on the matter.

Ehrenreich has criticised the decision because he views De Klerk as the last apartheid president and because he believes De Klerk had no political option but to make his February 2 1990 speech signalling the end of apartheid.

But at an event yesterday in Sea Point to commemorate De Klerk’s speech, Motlanthe said he disagreed with Ehrenreich and would tell him so when next he saw him.

-Jan-Jan Joubert and Nashira Davids