23 September 2025
The Mpumalanga legislature has used Heritage Day to fast-track the renaming of several public assets in the province.
A motion to rename was proposed without notice and was quickly adopted by the legislature before it moved on to other matters.
Provincial legislators were sitting on Tuesday, where they were to hear oral replies from Mpumalanga Premier Mandla Ndlovu.
Airport renamed after DD
The renaming could affect the internationally renowned Kruger National Park (KNP), a stadium in Witbank and the province’s main airport.
The EFF’s Rhulani Qhibi raised the motion without notice to mark the week South Africa celebrates Heritage Day, but lamented the names of various sites.
How do we celebrate our heritage as South Africans when we still have our beautiful national parks named after the architect of apartheid, Paul Kruger.
“How do we celebrate Heritage Month when our airport is still named under the same apartheid murderer, Paul Kruger, who stole our land and killed our forefathers,” said Qhibi.
“How do we celebrate our heritage when our stadium in Witbank is still named after Jan van Riebeeck?”
Qhibi proposed renaming Kruger National Park to Skukuza National Park, the airport to DD Mabuza International Airport and the stadium to Veli Malhangu Stadium.
The motion was instantaneously adopted, less than three minutes after Qhibi assumed the microphone.
Source: Citizen
