Chumasande Matiwane|Published
Motorists and residents in Kuils River will have to get used to a new road name after a street in Highbury, Kuils River was renamed in honour of John Van de Rheede, a former teacher and community activist who helped establish neighbourhood watches and early childhood development centres.
The City of Cape Town hosted a renaming ceremony on Saturday, October 17, attended by the Van de Rheede family, Deputy Mayor Alderman Eddie Andrews and members of the Highbury Foundation.
Belhar Main Road is now known as John Van de Rheede Drive, following a request by the Highbury Foundation and approval by the City Council earlier this year.
At the ceremony, Andrews paid tribute to Van de Rheede’s contribution to the community.
“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,” Andrews said.
“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.”
Van de Rheede’s contribution to education
According to the City, Van de Rheede studied teaching after completing high school. He began his teaching career at Bridgetown High School before continuing at Belhar High School.
He was also a civic leader and political activist during apartheid, with more than three decades of involvement in teaching, small business development and community work.
Van de Rheede played a role in securing Western Cape government funding for a brick-making project in Kalkfontein and championed the establishment of early childhood development centres in Highbury, Kalkfontein and Wesbank.
He also helped establish Highbury’s first neighbourhood watch, promoting community involvement in building safer neighbourhoods.
Winston Middleton, chairperson of the Highbury Foundation, said Van de Rheede’s contribution extended across several areas 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,” Middleton said.
“For our safety, he played a driving role in establishing Highbury’s first Neighbourhood Watch, regularly walking the streets on patrol himself.”
Middleton added that Van de Rheede continued mentoring young people after retiring in 2014 through the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of the Western Cape.
“He was also a defender of the rights of residents,” Middleton said.
Family pays tribute to his legacy
Van de Rheede’s daughter, Jade Van de Rheede, spoke about her father’s commitment to community work and his involvement in local projects throughout her childhood.
“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,” she said.
She recalled that her father regularly attended community meetings while remaining involved in his children’s school activities.
“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,” she said.
Jade said the family was grateful to the City for approving the renaming.
“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.”
She said the decision represented more than a change to a street name.
“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.”
Public consultation preceded renaming
The City said the renaming was undertaken in accordance with its Naming Policy.
A public participation process ran from May 2 to June 2, 2025. Of the 960 comments received, 857 supported the name change.
The City’s Roads Infrastructure Management Department will implement the changes to signage to reflect the new name, John Van de Rheede Drive.