Port Elizabeth International Airport could soon have a new name.
Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) has called for public submissions on suggested name changes for four of the country’s airports, including Port Elizabeth’s.
This follows the call from EFF leader Julius Malema for Cape Town International Airport to be renamed after anti-apartheid stalwart Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.
“Cape Town International Airport, East London Airport, Port Elizabeth International Airport and Kimberley Airport are subject to renaming as part of the government’s Transformation of Heritage Landscape programme,” Acsa said in a statement on Friday.
Last year, the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality started investigating the possibility of renaming the airport after struggle icon and former president Nelson Mandela.
However, the King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality has been lobbying for years to have Mthatha Airport named after Mandela.
Former Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Ben Fihla had suggested that the airport be named after Sipho Hashe – one of the slain Pebco Three members abducted at the airport in 1985 by apartheid-era security police.Scores of name changes have taken place in the country since apartheid was abolished in 1994. Port Elizabeth International Airport and East London Airport were previously known as HF Verwoerd Airport and Ben Schoeman Airport, respectively.
Acsa said Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa would be responsible for the approval of the proposed names for the four airports after receiving recommendations from the SA Geographical Names Council.
The deadline for submissions is on Wednesday.
Proposals and comments should be sent by e-mail to corporate.affairs@airports.co.za or hand-delivered to the Acsa office at the nearest airport.
Acsa said once the names had been approved by Mthethwa, they would be published in the Government Gazette.
After this, there would be 30 days to file objections.
The minister would then assess the objections and a final decision would be published in the gazette.
“The Department of Transport and Airports Company South Africa will then implement the official names as soon as possible.”