Hastings Ndlovu’s legacy honoured in June 16 street renaming

17 June 2016

 

Gauteng Premier David Makhura reiterated his call for the youth to stop the destruction of infrastructure and burning of schools, libraries and clinics.

 

Premier Makhura was speaking at the official renaming of Thabethe Street in Orlando West, Soweto, to Hastings Ndlovu Street in honour of the first victim of the June 16 1976 Soweto student uprising.

The new name was unveiled by Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe, Premier Makhura and Johannesburg Executive Mayor Cllr Parks Tau at a ceremony attended by a high-powered delegation of Cabinet Ministers, including Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Des van Rooyen, as well as the chairman of Premier Soccer League and Orlando Pirates Football Club, Irvin Khoza.

Premier Makhura said in memory of the youths of 1976, the current generation should refrain from destroying or burning schools, libraries and clinics as these were important community assets.

Executive Mayor Tau said the City of Johannesburg was proud to be part of the historic occasion celebrating the legacy of June 16 1976 heroes like Hastings Ndlovu. He said the City had already started the process of renaming streets after struggle heroes such as Hastings Ndlovu.

Khoza, who was representing the family, said the Ndlovus were grateful that it had finally been confirmed by Dr Malcolm Klein, who worked at Chris Baragwanath Hospital at the time but is now based in USA, that Hastings was the first victim of the uprising. Dr Klein attended yesterday’s ceremony.
Khoza also called on the youth to stop destroying buildings and schools but fight for better education instead.

Hastings’s sister, Jeanette Ndlovu, said she was proud that her brother’s contribution was not in vain. She called on the government to uplift the youth.
“I’d like to thank our fallen heroes for the role they played and we will not forget our brother Hastings,” he said.