Proposal to rename Old Granary after Desmond and Leah Tutu

28 August 2023

The City of Cape Town’s Naming Committee this morning recommended to Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis that the Old Granary building be renamed ‘Desmond and Leah Tutu House’. Residents will also have the opportunity to comment on this proposal. 

'The Naming Committee has met this morning to discuss a proposal from the City's Economic Growth Directorate to rename the Old Granary building to honour and memorialise the life and work of the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu and his wife, Leah Tutu. The Naming Committee fully supports this initiative, and we have proposed to the Mayor that we rename the City owned building to 'Desmond and Leah Tutu House'; and that the City's Public Participation Unit (PPU) commences with a participation process to give residents, and interested and affected parties the opportunity to comment on this proposal,' said the City's Deputy Mayor and Chairperson of the Naming Committee, Alderman Eddie Andrews.

Once the Mayor has accepted the Naming Committee's recommendation, the PPU will commence with the participation process.

'We will let the public know once the proposal is open for comment, and how and where to participate. I want to encourage residents in advance to make use of this opportunity to be involved in this very important process,' said Alderman Andrews.

'The proposal to change the name was set in motion by the Economic Growth Directorate which oversees the management of the Old Granary building. Our vision is to carry on the legacy of Desmond and Leah Tutu who have not only made notable contributions to the political and socio-cultural identity of Cape Town and South Africa, but are global icons for virtue and fortitude of character,' said the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, Alderman James Vos.

The Old Granary building, situated at 11 Buitenkant Street in Zonnebloem, was originally constructed between 1808 and 1813. Over the past 200 years it has been used as a bakery, granary, jail for women, customs house, court and police office, and Public Works offices.

In 2015, the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation co-funded the refurbishment to allow the foundation to use the space as a peace centre, archive centre, and a museum, and City of Cape Town office space.

'The suggested name change for this building is fitting given how the foundation utilises the heritage site in educating visitors and promoting the values of leadership and peace,' said Alderman Vos.

Residents will be informed once the public participation process has started, and how and where to comment.

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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office