THE days of the racially offensive NU name in Mdantsane are numbered, with a project kicking off to demarcate and rename all 17 neighbourhoods and street names.

The Mdantsane Urban Renewal Programme (MURP) is launching the project at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium on Wednesday, 30 July. NU stands for Native Unit; the township’s neighbourhoods are called NU 1 to 17. The renaming is part of efforts to change the face of the impoverished township.

According to the MURP, street signage will also be improved. Poor signage and house numbering at present make it difficult to find houses during emergencies, slowing response times by police, ambulances and firefighters. These issues also hamper postal deliveries.

“MURP has identified the demarcation of suburbs, the proper display of street names and logical house numbering one of the key projects to change the face of the township,” it said.

The project will be completed by the end of December. Public participation meetings will be held in all Mdantsane’s wards to ensure communities have their say.