As part of the work the Johannesburg Development Agency is undertaking for the Archbishop Desmond Tutu Precinct, in the Johannesburg inner city, centred on St Mary’s Cathedral, the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) invites public comments on the proposed renaming of four streets around the cathedral.

The cathedral is where Desmond Tutu, who was a Nobel Peace Prize laureate in 1984, rose to prominence as the first black Anglican dean of the church in Johannesburg.

Residents and interested parties are invited to comment on the proposed renaming of Plein street to Desmond Tutu street, of Wanderers street to Simeon Nkoane street, of De Villiers street to Trevor Huddleston street and of Hoek street to Cathedral street.

The city encourages residents, stakeholders and community members to share their views on the proposed changes by May 5.

St Mary’s Cathedral has acted and continues to serve as a sanctuary and beacon of hope in the inner city and Tutu has been a moral compass for South Africa. By integrating urban regeneration with heritage preservation, this project aims to create a living tribute that honours Tutu and his ideals, the CoJ says.

The precinct seeks to honour Tutu’s lifelong commitment to social justice by creating high-quality public spaces that are welcoming, pedestrian-friendly, safe and accessible to all.

The renewed space will be maintained and managed by the CoJ according to its Precinct Plan, which envisions a safe, respectful, clean and inclusive environment where residents, businesses and informal traders can coexist harmoniously.

The JDA and the CoJ transport department are leading this urban regeneration initiative.

This street renaming offers a meaningful way to showcase the heritage of the precinct by acknowledging and celebrating significant figures connected to the area’s historic legacy, the CoJ adds.

The renaming proposal aims to strengthen the identity of the Desmond Tutu Precinct, which was approved by the CoJ Council on April 26, 2022.