Diepkloof park renamed Vuyani Mabaxa

08 October 2015

 

The Diepkloof Extreme Park has been renamed in honour of slain community and political activist Vuyani Mabaxa.

 

This vibrant green belt, located along Immink Drive in Zone 2, was one of the first parks in Johannesburg to be revamped in “a 24-hour extreme makeover”.

 

The 2008 makeover saw what was essentially an undeveloped open space being transformed into a quality park boasting a wide selection of play equipment, picnic and braai areas, a splash pool, fountains, an amphitheatre and a large TV screen as well as a memorial plague paying tribute to Mabaxa. Dominica Masalesa, an Assistant Director in the City of Johannesburg’s Arts, Culture and Heritage Department, said the decision to rename the park after Mabaxa followed a request by members of the Diepkloof community.

 

“In pursuing this renaming, public meetings were held ... and there were no objections to the suggested name,” said Masalesa.

 

Born on 17 November 1967, Mabaxa grew up in Diepkloof and attended Namedi Secondary School, where his political career blossomed. In the early 1980s, he became an active member of the Congress of South African Students (COSAS) and was elected to its leadership. After the unbanning of the ANC in 1990, Mabaxa played a pivotal role in rebuilding the ANC Youth League, of which he later became an executive member.

 

Mabaxa was also an active member of the South African Communist Party (SACP) and of the National Education Health and Allied Workers’ Union. Mabaxa was shot and killed by police on 13 October 1991.

 

Masalesa said the renaming of the park was a mark of respect and paid homage to “one of the most respected ANC youth leaders of his time”.