CA’s members to decide on whether or not to review change

The name change of Louis Trichardt to Makhado does not sit well with each and every person in town, and in all probability the legal route will be taken to try and reverse the name change for a second time.

The Chairpersons Association (CA) has called on its members to attend a meeting on 6 June to decide whether an application will be brought to the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria to review the name change of the town from Louis Trichardt to Makhado. This follows after a CA executive committee meeting on 21 May where the name change was discussed.

Arts and Culture Minister Paul Mashatile informed the Chairpersons Association on 10 May that he rejected the objection of the CA against the second name change of the town.

The first time that the town’s name was changed from Louis Trichardt to Makhado was in June 2003. The objection of the CA was rejected, after which they opted for the legal route. The High Court in Pretoria heard the CA’s application for review in August 2005. Judge MK Lekgodi gave the verdict and the town’s name was Makhado. The verdict coincided with the triumphant unveiling of the statue of King Ramabulana Makhado in September 2008.

The CA appealed to the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein, where a bench of five  judges of appeal announced their ruling in March 2008 that the name change had to be set aside. The town’s name then reverted back to Louis Trichardt. In the meantime, the bust of Louis Trichardt was first hidden, then stolen and recovered and eventually placed in the municipal library, where it can still be seen.

The Makhado Municipality, however, almost immediately embarked on a process to have the name revert to Makhado. The second name change to Makhado was published by the Minister in the Government Gazette of 14 October 2011. The CA lodged their objection within the prescribed period of 30 days.

“The executive committee was 100% unanimous in their standpoint that we would recommend to our members that we should take the minister’s decision to court on review,” said CA chairperson Mr André Naudé.

“The principles we stood upon in 2003 are the same that we stand on in 2012: the community cannot be ignored and services must be rendered. We cannot be at the mercy of politicians who act for their own gain,” Naudé said.

“All information will be given to the members at the AGM on 6 June and they will decide whether or not to give the mandate to the executive committee to proceed,” said CA secretary Ms Inga Gilfillan.

In their objection, the CA emphasised that Louis Trichardt and Rasithuu Ramabulana were the first example of cooperation between the leaders of different cultural groups, finding peace in South Africa. Ramabulana was the father of Makhado. Makhado was expelled by his father because he was a troublemaker.

“As opposed to the peace-seeking Louis Trichardt, Makhado was a warrior who caused a lot of suffering and pain, which is offensive to many cultural groups,” reads the objection.

The CA says that their AGM will be held at the church hall of the Soutpansberg Dutch Reformed Church opposite Louis Trichardt High School at 18:00.

News - Date: 01 July 2012

Linda van der Westhuizen

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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