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News - Date: 01 August 2008
The naming committee of the Makhado Municipal Council had its mandate renewed by Council during the latest Council meeting last Thursday.
Council approved in principle the renaming of unspecified “features, including natural landforms, street names, buildings and other public institutions”, subject to the public involvement process provided for in the South African Geographical Names Council Act. The naming committee and its style of operation in the recent past repeatedly caused serious divisions amongst local residents with regard to the committee’s efforts to have Louis Trichardt’s name changed.
The Democratic Alliance’s Vhembe District Office reacted this week to Council’s latest decision.
“For the ANC to embark on a process to change names that will bring no material difference to the lives of our community and to the quality of service delivery is of great concern to us,” the DA states in a media release.
“Why do we have to start and waste funds on changing names if no formal request from the community has been received in this respect? No report has been generated on which institutions, streets or infrastructure will be affected and what the possible names could be.
“The ANC had clearly shown than when they did proceed with their effort to change the name of Louis Trichardt, they could not follow the correct procedures. They have their own agendas and do not consider the community at large.
“Twice it was shown, once by the Court and the second time by the minister, that inadequate consultation was followed. In doing so they demonstrated a disregard for taxpayers’ funds.
“As our town and its surroundings are busy dilapidating and service delivery is inefficient, we should focus our efforts and recourses on what the people really need and not on name changes for the sake of giving recognition to ANC icons that had nothing to do with the history of the specific area,” reads the DA’s statement.
Frans van der Merwe is a freelance journalist with more than 40 years experience in the newspaper industry. Apart from newspaper reporting, he was also involved with radio news, news reading, training and marketing. He has been living and working in Louis Trichardt since 1991.
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