SPEECH BY THE EXECUTIVE MAYOR OF CAPE TOWN, PATRICIA DE LILLE, AT THE CEREMONY FOR THE RENAMING OF WESTERN BOULEVARD TO HELEN SUZMAN BOULEVARD, November 7 2011
The Premier of the Western Cape, Helen Zille,
Members of the Provincial Cabinet,
Members of Parliament,
Members of the Suzman family, Janet and Patricia,
Trustees of the Suzman Foundation,
Councillors,
Honoured guests,
Good morning, goeiedag, molweni.
This is a historic day for Cape Town. It is a historic day for all those who believe we should recognise the heroes of our past who allowed us to enjoy the freedom and democracy that we have in South Africa today.
Today, we continue with our policy of social redress, one of the cornerstones of which is changing the spatial environment in which we live. By changing the symbolism of different public spaces and utilities, we change the dynamic of this city to one that draws strength from our shared heritage.
This is indeed a special occasion. Today we rename Western Boulevard after one of the greatest stalwarts of the struggle to end apartheid in South Africa, Helen Suzman.
We do so on what would have been her 94th birthday. Helen Suzman served for many years as the lone voice in parliament opposing apartheid. Through intimidation, slights, threats, and many other challenges besides, she stood firm for what she believed in, which was an end to racially oppressive tyranny.
For years, she stood up to those who would try and shout her down, both in parliament and without, people she called ‘bullies.' Through it all, she continued her work despite the constant assaults on her integrity.
Many of us fought in the struggle and we faced our own challenges and sacrifices. Some of us have forgotten the loneliness of those days. We should think of what Helen Suzman endured.
Day after day, she was vilified and attacked by her colleagues and many members of her community. She did not always have the reassurance of confederates during those lonely years as the single voice of opposition on the benches. But she fought through, for democracy, human rights and decency.
In her lifetime, she was honoured by many, from honorary degrees to honorary positions of great prestige. We are fortunate to honour her in our way. While she would not have sought such a public monument to her, the values she espoused and the struggle she fought belongs to all of us and it is only right that we should honour her.
Indeed, in our drive to build an inclusive city, we try to live by the values of people like Helen Suzman. As she said, and I quote, ‘I stand for simple justice, equal opportunity and human rights.
The indispensable elements in a democratic society - and well worth fighting for.' Those are the values we stand for in Cape Town. Today, we will have two major arteries linking East and West, the one honouring former president Mandela, the other honouring Helen Suzman.
Meeting together, they represent the best values in all of us and remind us of what we are trying to achieve. Though she is not here to see this testament to her life, we honour Helen Suzman, through this road and the principles that inform our government.
Issued by the City of Cape Town communication department, November 7 2011
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