(27 Oct 2006)
1. Medium of newly named O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg
2. Wide of airport terminal building with banner being removed to reveal new name AUDIO clapping
3. Close of sign reading (English) "O.R. Tambo International Airport"
4. Medium of Nelson Mandela, former South African President arriving with wife, Graca Machel
5. Wide of Thabo Mbeki, South African President and Mandela on stage
6. Medium of Graca Machel and Adelaide Tambo, Oliver Tambo's wife (wearing white)
7. Wide of O.R. Tambo's statue being unveiled
8. Medium of Mbeki, Mandela and Machel standing next to statue
9. Close of statue
10. Cutaway of media
11. SOUNDBITE: (English) Thabo Mbeki, South African President:
"I would like to believe that we have not gathered here today (Friday) either to plant a seed or to plant a tree. I am convinced that we have convened here today to rename this important airport because we are thinking in terms of a hundred years. Johannesburg International Airport has today acquired a new name as part of our response to what Confucius (Chinese thinker and social philosopher) said, that if we think in terms of a hundred years, we should teach the people rather than merely planting seeds and trees."
12. Medium of audience applauding
13. Medium of choir singing
14. Wide interior of airport
15. SOUNDBITE: (English) Vox Pop, traveller:
"They should have spent the money on free schooling and not spent all the money here."
16. SOUNDBITE: (English) Vox Pop, traveller:
"I know it is a costly thing but as you know Oliver Tambo was a well known person. He was a freedom fighter too, so we should retain his name somewhere along the line."
17. SOUNDBITE: (English) Vox Pop, traveller:
"No its fine, absolutely fine. What's in a name? It's a name."
18. Wide interior of airport
19. Wide of airport road sign reading (in English) "O.R. Tambo International"
STORYLINE:
Johannesburg International Airport was officially renamed O.R. Tambo International Airport on Friday morning after the late African National Congress (ANC) president.
The South African President Thabo Mbeki declared that renaming South Africa's main airport after a liberator like O.R. Tambo keeps the country's memories alive.
"Johannesburg International Airport has today acquired a new name as part of our response to what Confucius (Chinese thinker and social philosopher) said, that if we think in terms of a hundred years, we should teach the people rather than merely planting seeds and trees," Mbeki said.
Mbeki said in a renaming ceremony speech that the airport now carries the name of the man who led the way to a brighter future rather than the darkness of oppression.
Mbeki then unveiled a bust of Tambo at the ceremony within the newly named airport, watched by former South African president Nelson Mandela, his wife Graca Machel, Transport Minister Jeff Radebe, Tambo's widow Adelaide and his relatives.
Mbeki called Tambo a liberator in the struggle against apartheid, and said the renaming had an important significance despite some opposition to it.
Reaction at the renamed airport was mixed.
"They should have spent the money on free schooling and not spent the money here," said one traveller.
While another said, "I know it is a costly thing but as you know Oliver Tambo was a wonderful person, he was a freedom fighter too, so we should retain his name somewhere along the line."
Mbeki said those who travelled through the airport would now have the privilege of saying they had a brief association with Tambo.
Tambo led the ANC in exile for 30 years and died in April 1993.
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