Proposed name for town is "tribalistic"

This march will be part of their concern over the proposed renaming of Louis Trichardt town to Makhado, of which the concerned group feels that the name itself is "tribalistic".

The Concerned Group has been trying to raise its concerns to different stakeholders, only to be told that the name is not tribalistic at all and that the stakeholders are satisfied about the way in which the town has been renamed. Furthermore, that correct procedures were followed in the renaming of the town. The Concerned Group believes that other communities were not consulted nor were correct procedures followed in renaming the town.

They also believe that only the Venda communities were consulted. To add to their complaints, they feel that the Makhado name is another way of giving one ethnic group a chance to oppress others.

Last Friday, the SABC's Munghana Lonene FM invited the PAC, the Makhado Municipality, the ANC and the Ximoko Progressive Party and the Hlanganani Concerned Group to talk about the issue. This special programme was broadcast live during the station's current affairs programme.

Cllr Moses Tsedi from the Makhado Municipality confirmed that the Municipality was satisfied with the name and the manner in which the process went. Mr Philemon Mdaka, who represented the ANC, indicated that the reason for the renaming of towns is that the government wanted to destroy everything that has to do with the apartheid government since "we are living in a changing world" as he put it. However, he said that if there were some communities who are not happy with the way in which the process went, the ANC would look into the problem.

The march is expected to take place early next month where the group will march to the Makhado Municipality Buildings and hand over a memorandum to the Municipal Manager.

News - Date: 29 November 2002

Musa Mabasa

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