Renaming a street after a terrorist is taking South Africa down the wrong road.
By Nkanyezi Ndlovu
South Africa has long aimed to play a mediatory role in the Middle East peace process, a diplomatic stance underscored by its historical position of hosting both the Israeli and Palestinian embassies. Recently, however, we have witnessed a concerning increase in anti-Israel initiatives within the country, which appears to compromise South Africa’s once-neutral stance. A notable example is the City of Johannesburg’s recent plan to rename Sandton Drive to Leila Khaled Drive, ostensibly to honor her purported role in the so-called Palestinian resistance.
While altering street names is a common practice, it is crucial to pause and critically assess who Leila Khaled is. Khaled rose to prominence not as a figure of legitimate resistance, but rather for her notorious role in the 1969 hijacking of TWA Flight 840, as well as her involvement in one of the four simultaneous hijackings in Dawson’s Field the following year, both part of the violent and deadly Black September campaign in Jordan. According to Pluto Press, Khaled is viewed by some as a symbol of Palestinian militancy; however, this perspective conveniently glosses over her involvement in severe acts of terrorism.
In pro-Palestinian circles, Khaled may be glorified as a fierce icon of resistance, but the stark reality is that she has become infamous for orchestrating hijackings of civilian aircraft under the banner of pursuing freedom. Her involvement in the hijackings have tragically resulted in the death of numerous civilians, a cowardly act that undeniably qualifies as terrorism. Terrorism, as defined by the Oxford Dictionary, is “the use of violence against non-combatants to achieve political or ideological aims.” Given this definition, it is irrefutable that Leila Khaled is a terrorist. Thus, for South Africa to honor such an individual signifies a deeply troubling misunderstanding of diplomatic protocols and humanitarian principles.
Historically, fighting for freedom has indeed been viewed as a noble cause, with many nations, including Palestine, having valiantly struggled for independence. However, when that fight involves the cruel victimization of innocent civilians, it ceases to be a cause for celebration and becomes an abhorrent act of terrorism. Such atrocities, steeped in violence and hatred, should never be honored or celebrated in the modern world.
Cyril Ramaphosa has often described his government as advocates of diplomatic and peaceful negotiations and mediation. However, by moving forward with plans to honour Khaled, Johannesburg risks undermining South Africa’s capacity to play a constructive role in promoting genuine peace and understanding. This reckless decision would portray South Africa as a supporter of Hamas and other extremist Palestinian factions engaged in terrorism. Furthermore, the recent International Court of Justice (ICJ) case against Israel, spearheaded by the South African government, suggests a troubling shift away from South Africa’s traditional foreign policy towards an overtly pro-Palestinian agenda, lacking a comprehensive and balanced grasp of the broader conflict. Honoring Khaled is thus a glaring step backward in the delicate peace mediation process.
In the shadow of such misguided choices, South Africa currently faces pressing domestic challenges, including water problems, femicide, crime and soaring unemployment. In this critical context, prioritizing the renaming of streets risks sending a dangerously misguided message to the public, implying that such symbolic gestures concerning terrorism take precedence over more pressing national concerns. South Africa must navigate its future carefully, ensuring that it upholds values of peace, mutual respect, and humane treatment for all, rather than glorifying the violent actions of a notorious terrorist.
About the writer:
Nkanyezi Ndlovu is a Zimbabwean Human rights activist engaged in the issues of human rights, migration, community development and climate change.
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