US Consulate in Johannesburg Faces Closure Over Street Name Change

A proposed street name change in Johannesburg has sparked a diplomatic storm, with a top US official warning that it could lead to the permanent closure of the United States Consulate in Johannesburg.

Joel Pollak, the leading candidate for US Ambassador to South Africa, stated that if Sandton Drive is renamed Leila Khaled Drive, the consulate will be shut down permanently.

Why the US Consulate in Johannesburg Matters

The US Consulate in Johannesburg, located at 1 Sandton Drive, Sandhurst, is a key diplomatic hub in South Africa. It provides services to Gauteng, Free State, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, and North West provinces, assisting:

• Americans with emergencies, passports, and birth reports
• South Africans with non-immigrant and immigrant visas for travel to the United States

The consulate is currently headed by Consul General Stephanie Bunce and plays a crucial role in fostering business, academic, and diplomatic ties between South Africa and the United States.

Sandton Drive Name Change Sparks Controversy

Last year, the City of Johannesburg proposed renaming Sandton Drive to Leila Khaled Drive.

Leila Khaled is a former Palestinian militant and member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), an organization classified as a terrorist group by the United States, the European Union, Canada, and other nations.

Khaled became widely known for her role in the hijacking of TWA Flight 840 in 1969 and one of the Dawson’s Field hijackings in 1970. She was later imprisoned but released in a prisoner exchange.

The proposal to rename the street was backed by the African National Congress (ANC) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).

ANC’s Push for the Name Change

ANC Deputy Secretary General Nomvula Mokonyane strongly supported the renaming, stating:

“We want the United States of America embassy to change their letterhead to Number 1 Leila Khaled Drive. We are sending a message that they cannot dominate us and tell us what to do.”

However, the proposed change faced significant backlash, with critics calling it political posturing and a waste of public funds.

US Ambassador Frontrunner Issues a Stern Warning

Joel Pollak issued a serious warning in an interview with The SA Jewish Report, stating that if the name change happens, the US will shut down the Johannesburg consulate permanently.

“The consulate will be closed and not be reopened. It will not be moved to another office. The United States will not do business with Johannesburg,” he said.

Pollak argued that honoring individuals involved in violent acts is “corrosive to South Africa” and undermines efforts to fight crime.

“If your position is that it is acceptable to hijack planes and kill innocent people for the right cause, you have not ruled out murder,” he added.

Pollak also questioned why South Africa would honor a controversial figure like Khaled, even with its historical support for Palestine.

“I don’t think Americans will feel comfortable traveling to South Africa if they have to get their visas renewed at Leila Khaled Drive.”

City of Johannesburg Drops the Proposal

Following public outrage, ActionSA announced that the Johannesburg political management committee (PMC) had scrapped the renaming plan.

The decision to drop the proposal averted a potential diplomatic fallout between South Africa and the United States.

However, the tense relations between the two countries over foreign policy and political alliances remain a point of concern.

Johannesburg Halts Controversial Renaming of Sandton Drive to Leila Khaled Avenue

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com