EFF reaffirms support for Sandton Drive renaming amid controversy

By Nkhensani Chauke

The EFF has reiterated its support for renaming Sandton Drive to Leila Khaled Drive, in honour of the long-standing member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).

The EFF said it opposed the efforts of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s administration and the City of Johannesburg to halt the renaming process.

The fighters argue that South Africa has a moral obligation to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people, drawing parallels with its own history of colonial dispossession and apartheid.

The proposal to rename Sandton Drive to Leila Khaled Drive has sparked division among the public and provoked a strong reaction from US President Donald Trump, particularly due to South Africa’s stance on Palestine.

Notably, Sandton Drive is home to the US Embassy in South Africa.

Critics of the move argue that renaming the road as Leila Khaled Drive constitutes a significant departure from the city’s