LOUIS TRICHARDT – "We do not want to replace the name of Makhado with a name of any other person. We are saying that a neutral and uniting name such as that of a nearby mountain 'Zoutpansburg' or a nearby river would be more suitable, appropriate and accommodative to all communities in this cosmopolitan town of Louis Trichardt, but not a name of a particular person."

In short, this was the essence of the message contained in a memorandum handed to the Makhado Municipal Council on Thursday, February 27 by the Hlanganani Concerned Group, following a protest march through the streets of Louis Trichardt. The Group finally managed to march in protest of Council's proposed name change, after Council refused to grant them permission on three previous occasions over the last three months. Close to a thousand people formed part of the march, which included representatives from the Soutpansberg Chamber of Commerce and a group of local concerned citizens. The Chamber of Commerce was to hand over a separate memorandum opposing the name change, but were denied the right to do so. It was argued by the municipality that Council only gave the Hlanganani Concerned Group permission to march, a Group of which the Chamber of Commerce as a separate entity was not part of. Therefore, it was said that Council couldn't accept the Chamber's memorandum, as they did not apply to march. According to original planning the march was to end at the Civic Centre via Songozwi and Krogh Street, but was at the last minute rerouted by Council to the Fire Station via Rissik, Grobler and Joubert Street.

Prior to handing over the memorandum to the Acting Mayor of the Makhado Municipality, Cllr Phineas Muladi the Chairman of the Hlanganani Concerned Group, Mr H R Khosa publicly read out the contents of the document.

In the memorandum, The Hlanganai Concerned Group identifies themselves as loyal and law-abiding citizens of the country who support the country's ideals, leadership and constitution.

"But we have problems with the arrogance of your Municipal Council, which is deliberately and outrageously treating the majority of law-abiding citizens within the boundaries of this town in a stratified and feudal manner," the memorandum reads. It goes on to say they, the Hlanganani Concerned Group, have realised with disgust that the municipal Council has got a vicious hidden agenda, with the ultimate goal of promoting a distorted history of one particular ethnic tribe's history at the expense of others, with the view of annihilating other tribes' history and ultimately assimilating them completely.

"We are saying that this outrageous and surreptitious action by your Municipal Council is undemocratic, unfair and unacceptable in the new dispensation in our new democratic country. Your Council is awkwardly out of step with the beautiful constitution of our country."

Apart from the above, the memorandum also states that Council has treacherously misinformed the community with lies and false information regarding "Makhado being a hero", which is according to them ridiculous and absurd.

"You also misinformed the Provincial Geographical Names Committee, saying that you have consulted all relevant stake holders, while knowing pretty well that you only consulted people in the predominantly Venda areas such as in Nzhelele, 'because this is your small London here in South Africa', where your Council conspires and decide the future of all other communities of the town."

The memorandum concludes by saying: "You do not have a mandate of all your communities to change Louis Trichardt and rename it Makhado and you know it. And for this reason we are saying to you that this name of Makhado must be nullified or reversed hence forth, pending proper research and sufficient consultation amongst all communities within the boundaries of our town."

Although the Soutpansberg Chamber of Commerce did not have the opportunity to hand over their memorandum, the contents of their memorandum strongly oppose the name change of Louis Trichardt, also arguing that Council amongst other things did not consult all stakeholders, took into account the economic implications of such a name change or took into account the discriminatory nature of the proposed name of Makhado. It also stated that it is a pity that Council is igniting negative emotions amongst the various cultural groups, which will be difficult to extinguish as this negative process progresses.