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News - Date: 06 April 2007
"We advised the Makhado Municipality to consult, but they were too stubborn!" said the Hlanganani Concerned Group, one of many groups responding to the ruling of the Appeal Court that the name change of Louis Trichardt to Makhado be set aside.
The Hlanganani group tried to advise the municipality on May 7, 2002, and have since then been ignored.
"We warned them that they would suffer the consequences of being stubborn because we would have no option but to protest strongly and challenge their unilateral changing of the name, and even take them to the highest court in our land… They lost hands down by a knockout in the twelfth round…" stated Mr JJ Gohell, secretary of the group.
Gohell also mentioned the fact that it started raining after the name of the town was Louis Trichardt once again.
"Just prior to the Appeal Court result, we had severe heat and drought, but immediately after the Appeal Court pronouncement, the weather changed and it started raining, and this is a good sign that the Mighty God in heaven - and our ancestors - happily accepted that result of the court battle," reads the statement, dated April 2.
Another group that had been actively involved since the very beginning of the name change is the Soutpansberg Chamber of Commerce. Their vice-chairperson, Ms Jana Smith, said this week that the municipality should stop wasting money and "accept the fact that we prefer Louis Trichardt". Smith applauded Mr André Naudé of the Chairpersons Association for his selfless effort.
The Democratic Alliance in Louis Trichardt warmly welcomed the Bloemfontein Appeal Court’s ruling about the name change. "It confirms that nobody is above the law, including the ruling party (ANC)." Mr Timothy Maanda, DA Provincial Chairperson, stated that the process of both street names and the town‘s name change undertaken by the municipality under Mr Reuben Rambado’s administration "was characterised by lawlessness and disrespect for the rule of law". The DA believes that the history and cultures of all ethnic groups should be respected and preserved.
The Freedom Front Plus welcomed the ruling of the court and said that every name change bulldozed by the government since 2003 is now open for debate.
Mr Sandile Memela, spokesperson for the Department of Arts and Culture stated on April 2 that "there is no reason to believe that this marks the reversal of name-changes that have taken place in other parts of the country."
The local Indian community spokesperson and representative on the Chairpersons Association, Mr Dave Patel, said that they had seen the statement of the CA that the name should stay Louis Trichardt and that they had no problems with that. Mr Alec Smail, representing the Buyspeople at the CA, said that he was excited and happy that the town’s name stays Louis Trichardt. He said that the way forward still needed to be discussed with Buysdorp.
The Soutpansberg Ratepayers Association (SRPA) said that they are pleased that justice triumphed.
"Taxpayers should realize that there are laws to protect their cultural heritage," stated Mr Herman Smith of the SRPA.
Linda van der Westhuizen has been with Zoutnet since 2001. She has a heart for God, people and their stories. Linda believes that every person is unique and has a special story to tell. It follows logically that human interest stories is her speciality. Linda finds working with people and their leaders in the economic, educational, spiritual and political arena very rewarding. “I have a special interest in what God is doing in our town, province and nation and what He wants us to become,” says Linda.
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