Beyers Naudé Drive


Beyers Naudé Drive is a large arterial route in Johannesburg, South Africa. It starts at the University of Johannesburg in Auckland Park, travelling through Melville, Roosevelt Park, Northcliff, Blackheath and traversing the N1 Western Bypass at Randpark Ridge. It terminates at the N14 freeway near Muldersdrift. It was previously known as DF Malan Drive. It is denoted by the code M5.

Metropolitan route M5
Route information
Maintained by Johannesburg Roads Agency and Department of Roads and Transport (Gauteng)
Length19 mi (31 km)
Existed1890s–present
Major junctions
North end N14
  N14 N14 Interchange, Muldersdrift
R564 Christiaan de Wet, Randpark Ridge
Northumberland, Sundowner
M6 Ysterhout Drive, Randpark Ridge
John Vorster Road, Randpark Ridge
N1 Western Bypass, Randpark Ridge
M8 Judges Avenue, Blackheath
Pendoring Avenue, Blackheath
South end M5 Main Road in Melville, Johannesburg
Highway system
Numbered routes of South Africa

Background

On old Johannesburg municipal maps, the rough roadway was called the Mulders Drift Road. Later it was renamed DF Malan Drive after the South African Prime Minister DF Malan. In September 2001, DF Malan Drive was renamed Beyers Naudé Drive after celebrated anti-apartheid pastor Beyers Naudé.[1] He was excommunicated by the Dutch Reformed Church for his views, but subsequently re-accepted after apartheid’s abolition.

The drive links the inner city of Johannesburg to the far western regions of Gauteng over a distance of 30 kilometres. It varies from being three lanes in each direction through Roosevelt Park and Randpark Ridge to being single lanes in each direction through Honeydew/Zandspruit and further out to Muldersdrift.

Several shopping malls, the largest being Cresta Shopping Centre in Blackheath, are located along Beyers Naudé Drive. It is a major arterial route for residents of Randburg and Roodepoort to access the city centre (Braamfontein and the M1 highway through the city centre).

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References
  1. Mngadi, Zanele (30 September 2001). "Square, major road named after Beyers Naude". IOL News. SAPA. Retrieved 15 August 2016.

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