LOUIS TRICHARDT – Name changes in the Northern Province, on the eve of the major influx of visitors during the eclipse in December, will have a catastrophic effect on efforts to market the province on a global scale.

The leader of the DA in the Makhado Municipal Council, Cllr T M Maanda says the basic marketing principles in a global environment and “branding” are being grossly ignored in the proposed name changes.

Cllr Maanda says he is utterly amazed that the ANC is so out of touch with reality and the world around them, that they failed to notice that one of the biggest natural phenomena, the total solar eclipse, is about to take place on the 4th December resulting in the biggest ever influx of people from abroad. Almost all accommodation is already fully booked and the cost to inform all expected tourists of all the changes will be extremely high. He said it is totally unacceptable that the people in one of the poorest provinces in South Africa must pay for the ANC’s incompetence and inability to plan ahead, whilst this phenomena will bring thousands of tourists and create one of the biggest marketing opportunities ever.

“We fail to understand that name changes can now be on the agenda. The only explanation is that the ANC finds infighting and tension in its own ranks more important than growth.”

Cllr Maanda said the correct way to deal with major name changes is through a democratic referendum. Reacting to the proposed name changes in the Northern Province, he added that the DA wishes to state clearly that it does not support the name changes of the province, towns and street names that is forced through in the Northern Province.

“The DA is, however, not surprised by this move as the ANC is not known for its administrative ability or its planning excellence. This will be the second name change of the province which shows clearly the ANC’s lack of planning and foresight.

“This change will result in the fourth change of number plates in the province since 1994, for which the people on the ground once again will have to pay.”

Cllr Maanda further stated that it is unreal to think that the Makhado Municipality can send a document to councillors on January 31st tot request them to “convene an urgent ward people’s forum in your ward on Saturday 2nd February or Sunday 3rd February. You are requested to inform this office before Friday 1st February about the venue and time of the said meeting.”

He says the DA notes with amazement the speed at which these changes are being forced through as the ANC should know by now that most people attend funerals and church services during the weekends and the logistics to contact so many people without making use of the media and other appropriate channels, is impossible. Documentation was also not provided in all the languages spoken in the area.

“It seems that the ANC already decided on the names and tries hard to pretend that democratic and sound administrative action took place.

“The DA wishes to remind the public of the autocratic and deceitful way in which names of the municipalities were decided upon.”

Upon a motion to Council an ANC member of the Executive Committee indicated that meetings were held to discuss the name change, but failed to provide minutes of such meetings. There is therefore no reason to believe that this time it will be any different, he said.

Cllr Maanda says true democracy will make ample time available for all people to make inputs in a controlled and properly planned way.

“The DA cannot participate in this undemocratic cover-up and pretence to consult with all people but at the same time make it impossible for the very same people to give their input.

“We have experienced the same undemocratic whitewash before 1994 and this is therefore not new in the history of South Africa,” he says.