South African family history, genealogy, heritage and interesting places, past and present. All articles researched and written by Anne Lehmkuhl. COPYRIGHT ANNE LEHMKUHL, no article can be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission. EMAIL ME
Point Road, Durban
Hindu leaders are angry at the official proposal to rename Durban’s notorious Point Road after Mahatma Gandhi. They say renaming Point Road, which was known as a red light district, after Gandhi was insulting and immoral. President of the South African Hindu Dharma Sabha, Ram Maharaj, said the road is associated with immoral and illegal behaviour which would stigmatise and tarnish the purity of Gandhi’s image. He would prefer to rename Grey Street after Gandhi because that was a place that was dear to the heart of the Indian community. Gandhi’s granddaughter, Ela Gandhi, said she hoped her grandfather’s name would have a positive impact on the area. However, she felt his name should have been associated with one of the bigger highways and not just a small road. According to Durban's Deputy Mayor, Logie Naidoo, the Point was where the first lot of indentured Indian labourers landed and this is the reason why the council felt that it would be appropriate to name the road after Gandhi.