MEDIA STATEMENT

DATE: 19 MARCH 2004
TO ALL MEDIA
ATTENTION: NEWS EDITORS / TRANSPORT REPORTERS

 

DULLAH OMAR INTERCHANGE FOR KWAZULU-NATAL

The Roads Board is currently processing a request by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport to rename the E.B Cloete Interchange, commonly known as Spaghetti Junction next to the Pavillion Shopping Centre in Durban, as the Dullah Omar Interchange.

This announcement was made by KZN MEC for Transport S'bu Ndebele last night at a memorial service for the late Dr. Abdullah Omar in Durban. "Henceforth those who enter Durban from the West will pause and know that South Africa is today non-racial and democratic, thanks to the huge contribution of Dullah Omar. Those who enter from the South will pause at the Dullah Omar Interchange and reflect on the fact that our roads are safe thanks to the tireless road safety campaigns Dullah Omar pioneered. Those who enter from the North, from the South and from the West will say it is now becoming safe to travel in a taxi because Dullah Omar strived to establish peace in the taxi industry," Ndebele said.

Paying tribute to Omar Ndebele said that it was difficult to say farewell to a dear friend and comrade who had long been a pillar of strength and paragon of humbleness. "How do you even start saying farewell to someone who you wish might have lived for ever? This is the situation I find myself in today as all of us grapple with the reality of Minister Dullah Omar's death," said Ndebele.

"A gallant revolutionary, a visionary, a dedicated patriot and a people's Minister, who had a passion for working at the grassroots and improving the lives of the poor. Comrade Dullah Omar was a humble but fearless champion of human rights with a great sense of service to all the people of South Africa over many decades, and his death came at the end of the term of the current Government whose mandate he sought to see through. Having said that the question we have to ask ourselves is, how can we ensure that we continue the legacy of Comrade Omar? How can we ensure that we keep his memory to all our future generations? Let us not be overwhelmed by guilt feelings for we can still be like him by ensuring that the gains he has made for us are not reversed by apathy, inactivity and intolerance - things comrade Dullah detested in life," Ndebele said.

Hundreds of people, including Omar's son Rustum Omar, members of the provincial legislature, and representatives from local government, NGO's and the transport fraternity attended the memorial.

 

Issued By:

Logan Maistry
Deputy Director: Media Liaison
Cell: 083 6444 050
Website: www.kzntransport.gov.za

 

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