It is now Makhado .. or is it?

The Limpopo Geographical Names Committee (LGNC) warned this week that the public and media should immediately stop using the name Louis Trichardt, following the Minister of Arts and Culture Paul Mashatile’s announcement that the name Makhado has been approved.

The name Makhado was published the first time in the government gazette in June 2003. By law, a period of 30 days is granted for objections. Objections were received and eventually the case was heard in the High Court in Pretoria in August 2005, with Judge MK Legodi ruling that Louis Trichardt’s name was Makhado.

That was in September, coinciding with the jubilant unveiling of the statue of King Ramabulana Makhado at the tourism information centre in Louis Trichardt. In the meantime, the Chairpersons Association (CA) was granted leave to appeal against the judgment and succeeded to win their appeal case in Bloemfontein. The five appeal court judges set aside the name change in March 2007, due to insufficient consultation. Hence the name of the town was Louis Trichardt again.

Following this ruling, the Makhado Municipality restarted the process and presented the name Makhado to the Limpopo Geographical Names Committee (LGNC). LGNC was satisfied with the process of consultations and recommended the name change to the South African Geographical Names Council.

Now that the minister has approved and published the name Makhado in the Government Gazette of 14 October, the LGNC wants an immediate enforcing of the use of the name. “The committee wants to make it clear that members of the public and media must stop using the old name Louis Trichardt to use the new re-approved Makhado...

"The committee will come with a series of meetings to enforce the implementation of the new name in order for the public to stop using the old name, which residents of the Makhado area feel is on no account associated with them, but the old regime. The committee will address the critical issue of changing all signage around the province. The committee will engage the department of Roads and Transport together with Makhado Municipality to fast track this process of changing signs to avoid confusing people,” stated LGNC spokesperson Mr Peter Moruthane on October 17 in a press release.

The question now, however, is whether the LGNC is jumping the gun with respect to the use of the name Makhado, since the 30 days objection period to the name change only expires on 14 November?

“It is totally unlawful to start enforcing the name at this stage,” said attorney André Naudé, chairperson of the CA.

The CA has already indicated that their objections have been prepared and they consider litigating, should the objections not be upheld.

When Louis Trichardt first became Makhado, several sectors of the community warned against the cost implication to change all the signage prematurely. Sign boards with the name Makhado appeared with exceptional speed. After the appeal court decision, it took more than three years to get some of the boards changed back to Louis Trichardt again. The CA says it is surprising that the changing of road signage will suddenly be fast tracked.

“This is an indication of the fact that the whole process is politically motivated and not in the interest of the nation. The whole name change process polarises cultural groups. At grassroots level there is a synergy between cultural groups that politicians destroy. Their interest is not to serve communities,” Naudé said.

Meanwhile, the office of Minister Mashatile indicated that they would convey the reasons for changing the name to Makhado to the Zoutpansberger/Limpopo Mirror by next week.

News - Date: 24 October 2011

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.

Email: