By Mendy Mtshali and Sanele Khumalo
The KwaZulu-Natal government has been embarking on a process of renaming hospitals in the province after anti-apartheid struggle icons. The latest is King Edward VIII Hospital which is no longer named after the late former British monarch and is now Victoria Nomyamezelo Mxenge Hospital.
Another that saw a name change recently is Edendale Hospital in Pietermaritzburg which is no longer named after the area it’s in but is now called Harry Gwala Regional Hospital.
“We firmly believe that in order to reclaim our identity as a nation; our streets, airports, government buildings, hospitals and other public amenities and symbols of national pride must reflect our history. Others might say we are being petty, instead of focusing on important things like providing medication and hospitals – we are focusing on renaming, but that is important,” said KwaZulu-Natal health MEC Simelane, Nomagugu Simelane.
Because of South Africa’s racially segregated past of colonialism and apartheid, the former King Edward VIII Hospital opened its doors in 1936 and was to cater only for black people.
Mxenge’s family was there to observe the renaming.
“One minute you happy that your mom is being honored, but on the other hand you realize that she never got to see the freedom that we have today, but overall, we do feel honored, and we are happy,” said Didi Mxenge-Makhanya.
She also mentioned that this was the hospital that her mother was trained and it was also where she died after being shot on her driveway.
KZN Nursing Director, Thandi Nompumelelo Sosibo, said that the renaming of the hospital is a beautiful thing for them as nurses.
