Ramaphosa to engage Joburg council on 'diplomatic implications' of renaming Sandton Drive after Palestinian activist

JOHANNESBURG - President Cyril Ramaphosa will engage the Johannesburg council over the "diplomatic implications" of renaming Sandton Drive after Palestinian activist, Leila Khaled.

If this name change were to go through, the US consulate in Sandton would be located on a street named after a person the current US government refers to as a terrorist.

At a media briefing on Thursday, the Office of the Presidency expressed concern that this may worsen the already volatile relationship between South Africa and the USA.

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The motion to rename Sandton Drive to Leila Khaled is supported by a majority of parties in the Johannesburg municipality council.

Members from the ANC, EFF and Al Jama-ah have all publicly stated renaming the street to a Palestinian activist would be to antoginise the USA.

However, presidential spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, said government did not want to do anything that would further complicate its relationship with Washington.

"We are dealing with a very unusual diplomatic challenge and we need to do so in a manner that is not undermined by other areas of government or other formations of society because if this relationship with the USA breaks down, we all have something to lose, so no one can act like an island."

Last week, the Johannesburg council overwhelmingly voted against a motion to rescind the proposed name change.