Celani Sikhakhane
The hospital that has kept a close relationship between the Zulu kingdom and the British royal family will finally lose its original name after 86 years.
The King Edward VIII hospital was built in 1936 at the home of King Shaka in Umbilo, south of Durban, known as KwaKhangelamankengana or eCongella.
It was named after King Edward VIII who passed away in 1972.
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health has proposed the removal of this name and suggested the hospital be named after struggle stalwart Victoria Mxenge.
Mxenge and her husband Griffiths Mxenge were human rights lawyers and anti-apartheid activists killed by police in Umlazi.
The Department of Health spokesperson in the province, Ntokozo Maphisa, said that they have issued a public notice for community members to have their input on this proposal.
“The aim of the department is to name our public institutions after certain figures who are known to our people, which will help them psychologically to resonate with that particular institution. It’s easy for people to respect any building that is named after someone they know. That is why we are proposing the name of Victoria Mxenge, who was also a nurse and later became a lawyer.”
Maphisa said that if people put other names forward they will also be considered.
However the department might not consider the names of those who are still alive since they try to avoid controversy. If public figures are embroiled in scandals it may put the institution into disrepute.
Proposals are open until 24 May 2022.
The name changes of different buildings and roads in KwaZulu-Natal, particularly in Durban, have sparked outrage and violent protests in eThekwini.
These include the Moses Mabhida stadium that was once proposed to be named after King Senzangakhona by then-premier Sbu Ndebele.
His proposal was rejected at the last minute by the ANCWL, claiming that King Senzangakhona was abusive to King Shaka’s mom Queen Nandi.
Image source: Gallo Images
