The Student Representative Council (SRC) at the University of the Witwatersrand has called on the City of Johannesburg to rename De Beer Street in Braamfontein to Mthokozisi Ntumba Street. This request comes four years after the SRC’s initial petition and follows the tragic death of Ntumba, who was shot by police rubber bullets during the student protests in 2021.
Ntumba, who had been at a medical facility in Braamfontein when caught in the crossfire between students and police, was struck by rubber bullets and tragically passed away at the scene. The incident led to a murder case being filed against the four police officers involved. However, the Johannesburg High Court dismissed the case in 2022, stating the state had not provided sufficient evidence to charge the officers.
The City of Johannesburg has since launched public consultations regarding the renaming of streets, including De Beer Street. The consultation period began this week and will run until March 31, allowing residents and stakeholders 28 days to submit comments and suggestions.
Many locals have welcomed the proposed change, seeing it as a way to honor Ntumba’s memory. Lerato Maphumulo, a Wits student, expressed her support, saying, “It’s a good gesture that the local government is at least honouring Ntumba, who died for something he was not part of.”
Others, like Lutendo Muchaveni, believe the renaming should be accompanied by accountability and compensation for Ntumba’s family. “The renaming of the street should come with accountability and compensation, as Ntumba was a breadwinner,” Muchaveni stated.
Nontsikelelo Truter, a student at Rosebank College, emphasized the need for consistent infrastructure maintenance if the renaming goes ahead. “It will not be proper for him to get a street named after him only for the city to abandon the street in terms of infrastructure maintenance and cleaning,” Truter said. “The city must ensure continuous service delivery to avoid disrespecting his legacy.”
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