ANC Sparks Controversy with Petition to Rename Sandton Drive after Palestinian Activist Leila Khaled

The African National Congress (ANC) of the Greater Johannesburg region has recently sparked political debate by renewing efforts to rename one of the city's most notable streets—Sandton Drive—after Palestinian activist Leila Khaled. Khaled is best known for her role in the hijacking of a passenger plane in 1969, which landed safely with no injuries. She is recognized globally as a symbol of resistance and the struggle of the Palestinian people.

This contentious issue came to the fore again when scores of ANC members gathered outside the U.S. Consulate in Johannesburg on a Thursday, urging the City of Johannesburg to implement a Council resolution from five years prior stating that Sandton Drive should be renamed Leila Khaled Drive. ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula voiced his support emphatically through a video post, compelling residents to endorse the petition.

The selection of Khaled's name is not merely an act of recognition but signifies the ANC's support for the Palestinian cause. A pronounced demonstration of solidarity, this move has resonated particularly well with members of the ANC and supporters of Palestinian rights.

However, this proposed renaming has encountered significant resistance, most notably from the Transport MMC Kenny Kunene, who is also the deputy president of the Patriotic Alliance, a known pro-Israel faction. Kunene and other opponents argue that local heroes should be given precedence in street naming, suggesting that Khaled's connection to Johannesburg is tenuous and that her recognition does not align with local street-naming policies.

The initiative initially proposed in December 2018 by the ANC, backed then by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), was immediately opposed by the Democratic Alliance (DA), and argued to be lacking in substance by their Community Development MMC, Nonhlanhla Sifumba. Despite its rejection then, current mobilization by the ANC demonstrates the issue’s staying power in regional politics.

Khaled's significance as an activist goes beyond her notorious acts; her continued visits to South Africa, where she has engaged with societal issues and delivered addresses, such as at the Third International Dilemmas of Humanity Conference, adds layers to her relevance in the South African socio-political environment.

As Johannesburg grapples with its identity and history in an increasingly globalized context, the possible renaming of Sandton Drive is emblematic of broader questions about representation, commemoration, and international solidarity.

In the midst of this are sobering reminders of the ongoing conflicts that underpin such initiatives. The casualties of the Gaza Strip, with numbers rising to over 14,500, including thousands of children and women, underscore the dire consequences that drive activists like Khaled and supporters of Palestinian liberation worldwide.

The debate over the Sandton Drive renaming is far from settled, with community members, local politicians, and international onlookers all keenly anticipating the outcome. Whatever the decision, the conversation has brought to light the powerful interplay between local heritage and global political struggles.