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Media verklaring - 24 September 2023
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William Nicol-Rylaan - Geskiedenis word uitgevee in Erfenismaand
(Scroll down for English text)
William Nicol Rylaan – Naamsverandering (geskiedenis word uitgevee in Erfenismaand)
- Assosieer eerder Struggle leiers met die verval in infrastruktuur
Op 24 September vier Suid-Afrika weer Erfenisdag. Erfenisdag is ‘n dag wat veral herinner aan die diverse verlede waaruit ons almal kom. Die Departement van Sport, Kuns en Kultuur het onlangs aangekondig dat die regering se 2023 tema vir Erfenismaand “Celebrating our Cultural Diversity in a Democratic South Africa” sal wees. Dit is die slegs Engelse weergawe op die slegs Engelse regeringswebwerf wat ons kon opspoor. “Viering van ons kulturele diversiteit in ’n Demokratiese Suid-Afrika” is ons vertaling na Afrikaans.
Die haas waarmee die ANC in Erfenismaand nou skarrel om die William Nicol Rylaan se naam te verander na Winnie Mandela Rylaan sou vroeër dalk wenkbroue gelig het of self ernstige beswaar. Die regerende party het egter al telkens deur sy optrede laat blyk dat die diversiteit van Suid-Afrika slegs deur lippediens bevorder word, maar deur aksies benadeel word.
Ons neem nou slegs kennis dat die naam amptelik op 26 September 2023 sal verander na Winnie Mandela – Rylaan. So is DF Malan-Rylaan en Hans Strijdom-Rylaane in Johannesburg ook reeds verander.
Ongelukkig het die ANC verval in die narratief wat die struggle as die enigste en saakmakende geskiedenis van Suid-Afrika uitbeeld. Suid-Afrika se geskiedenis is veel meer kompleks as dit, omvat baie meer as die struggle, sluit baie meer in as die ANC en hulle beperkte deelname in die geskiedenis.
Die wyse waarop naamsveranderinge deurgeforseer word bring onwillekeurig die vergelyking met die ou Sowjet era na vore. Die verandering van name was toe ook ‘n gunsteling tydverdryf na die kommunistiese oorname. Aanvanklik was dit daarop gerig om die verwysing na die Tsariste periode te verwyder. Mettertyd het dit ook ‘n wyse geword waarop leidende figure in die revolusie vereer is, insluitende leiers in die bestel van daardie tyd. Die simboliek in dié ideologie was om diegene wat verloor het in die politieke stryd te verguis en mettertyd uit die hoofstukke van die Sowjet geskiedenis te skryf. Dit is in 2023 in Suid-Afrika eweneens die geval.
Eens trotse strate spog in 2023 met nuwe name van struggle leiers maar is ook ʼn toonbeeld van veel meer - stukkende verkeersligte, sypaadjies wat vervalle is en slaggate wat die norm eerder as die uitsondering geword het. Dit strek dr William Nicol en ander leiers uit die verlede nie tot eer om hulle name te verbind aan hedendaagse verval, vandalisering en vernietiging nie. In ʼn tyd van brandende geboue, strate wat inplof en vele diensleweringprobleme verstom die ANC se prioritisering van naamsveranderinge mens telkens.
Ons sal voortgaan om dr William Nicol se nagedagtenis te eer. ʼn Vervalle straat is hom nie waardig nie. Dr. William Nicol (23 Maart 1887 – 22 Junie 1967) was NG predikant, teoloog, kultuurmens, opvoedkundige en Administrateur van Transvaal en het 'n groot rol in die ontwikkeling van Afrikaners en Afrikaanse skole in die Witwatersrand gespeel. Hy was ook die tweede voorsitter van die Afrikaner-Broederbond vir die termyn Junie 1924 – 13 Maart 1925. Hy is op 22 Junie 1967 op 80-jarige ouderdom oorlede.
(Die foto op die blad FOTO van ʼn skildery van Dr William Nicol - Met erkenning aan die Traansvaal Provinsiale Administrasie versameling in die Transvaalkamer by die Voortrekkermonument)
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William Nicol Drive – Name Change (History is being erased in Heritage month)
- Yes, rather associate Struggle leaders with the decaying infrastructure
On 24 September, South Africa celebrates Heritage Day once more. Heritage Day is a day that reminds us more than any other of the diverse past from which we all come. The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture recently announced that the government's 2023 theme for Heritage Month would be "Celebrating our Cultural Diversity in a Democratic South Africa". This is the English-only version on the English-only government website that we could find.
The haste with which the ANC is scrambling to change the name of William Nicol Drive to Winnie Mandela Drive in Heritage Month might previously have raised eyebrows or even serious objections. The ruling party has repeatedly shown through its conduct that the diversity of South Africa is promoted only through lip service while being undermined by actions, though.
We now merely note that the name will officially change to Winnie Mandela Drive on 26 September 2023. So, too, DF Malan Drive and Hans Strijdom Drive in Johannesburg have already been changed.
Unfortunately, the ANC has fallen into a narrative that portrays the struggle as the sole and only noteworthy history of South Africa. South Africa's history is much more complex than that, though. It encompasses so much more than the struggle and includes so much more than merely the ANC and its limited participation in a moment in history.
The way in which name changes are forced through involuntarily reminds one of the old Soviet era. Changing names was a favourite pastime after the communist takeover too. Initially, it was aimed at removing all references to the Tsarist period. Over time, it also became a way in which to honour leading figures in the revolution, including leaders of the time. The symbolism behind this ideology was to malign those who had lost the political struggle and over time write them out of that chapter of Soviet history. This is the case in South Africa in 2023 as well.
Once proud streets boast new names of struggle leaders in 2023 but at the same time signal much more - broken traffic lights, sidewalks that have fallen into disrepair and potholes that have become the norm rather than the exception. It does Dr William Nicol and other leaders of the past no credit to associate their names with the current decay, vandalism and destruction.
In a time of burning buildings, streets imploding, and numerous service delivery problems, the ANC's prioritisation of name changes astounds one.
We will continue to honour Dr William Nicol's memory. A dilapidated street is not worthy of him. Dr William Nicol (23 March 1887 – 22 June 1967) was a Dutch Reformed Church minister, theologian, man of culture, educationist and Administrator of the Transvaal who played a major role in the development of Afrikaners and Afrikaans schools in the Witwatersrand. He was also the second chairman of the Afrikaner Broederbond for the term June 1924 – 13 March 1925. He died on 22 June 1967 at the age of 80.
(The photo on this page is of a painting of Dr William Nicol - With credit to the Transvaal Provincial Administration’s collection in the Transvaal Room at the Voortrekker Monument)
