Belhar Main Road in Highbury, Kuils River, is now renamed John Van de Rheede Drive, and the City’s Roads Infrastructure Management Department will soon implement the changes to reflect the new name on signage.

The Highbury Foundation submitted the request for the renaming to the City.

‘John Van de Rheede studied teaching after completing high school, started his career at Bridgetown High School and later continued his career at Belhar High School. John played an active role in his community as a civic leader, and contributed not only as a teacher, but also as a political activist during apartheid.

‘His contribution spans over three decades through teaching and small business development at the Western Cape Provincial Government, and community involvement. He played a key role in getting the Western Cape Government to fund a brick-making project in Kalkfontein, and championed the building of early childhood centres in Highbury, Kalkfontein and Wesbank.

‘John was also involved in establishing the first neighbourhood watch in Highbury, and was passionate about community involvement in building safe and functional communities where residents take ownership of their neighbourhoods.

‘We remember John as a pillar of this community, a tree that once stood tall, a man who led by example, a giant of a human who shaped and touched so many lives. We commemorate John’s contribution to the community by naming Belhar Main Road in Kuils River after him. May those who see his name on the signage be inspired to follow in his footsteps,’ said Alderman Eddie Andrews, the City’s Deputy Mayor and Chairperson of the City’s Naming Committee at the ceremony.

‘Growing up, I recall always running after my father’s tail, just to tag along wherever he was going. It would be a meeting about one or other ongoing community project, like the Kuils River Carnival, or an upcoming election. And so, my father would spend many evenings attending to the plethora of community commitments he had taken on. Despite his busy schedule, I cannot remember him missing a single school meeting or awards evening, or failing to ensure that we had cake to take to school on our birthdays.

‘My father was passionate about righteousness and equality, and he kept God at the core of everything he did. It was less about the time and sacrifice, and far more about the people and living the purpose God had bestowed upon him.

‘Tuesday, 13 October, marked the third anniversary of his passing, and so it feels somewhat poetic that we are gathered here today. We will always mourn our greatest loss, but today, we are here to commemorate and honour him and the selfless work to which he dedicated his life. On behalf of the family, I would like to thank everyone who has made the time and effort to gather here today.

‘We would also like to extend our sincere appreciation to the City of Cape Town, and more specifically, Deputy Mayor Eddie Andrews and our local ward councillor, Ebrahim Savant, for honouring our father’s legacy and approving the renaming.

‘And this act is more than just a road renaming. It is a declaration of the legacy to which he dedicated his entire life — a legacy of service, righteousness, equality, faith, and a genuine commitment to his community.  May his soul rest in peace, and may perpetual light shine upon him,’ said Jade Van de Rheede, daughter of John and Sandra Van De Rheede, at the ceremony yesterday morning.

‘John’s vision extended to many corners of community life. For our children, he championed the establishment of Early Childhood Development centres in Highbury, Kalkfontein, and Wesbank. For our schools and NGOs, he helped organise the annual community carnival on the Western Cape Sports School grounds, raising critical funds for local schools and charities. For our safety, he played a driving role in establishing Highbury’s first Neighbourhood Watch, regularly walking the streets on patrol himself. Even after retiring in 2014, he continued mentoring young minds through the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at UWC. He was also a defender of the rights of residents,’ said Winston Middleton, Chairperson of the Highbury Foundation.

• Council approved the renaming of Belhar Main Road to John van de Rheede Drive earlier this year. The renaming took place in terms of the City’s Naming Policy. A public participation process took place from 2 May 2025 to 2 June 2025, during which the vast majority of comments (857 out of 960 comments) were in support of the name change.