HLANGANANI - The Hlanganani Concerned Group's attempts to voice its complaints about the proposed change of the name of Louis Trichardt to Makhado have fallen on deaf ears. This was revealed at a mass meeting, which was held at Marholeni High School last Sunday.

The group feels that during the process of naming the town, other communities were not consulted to bring their submissions and proposals, except for the Venda people. According to the group, the name is unsuitable for the municipality and town since the town is a cosmopolitan area for different communities like Northern Sothos, Shangaans, Indians, Coloureds, Whites and also Vendas

Since the group was established last year, a large number of letters were directed to the Premier's Office in Polokwane, the Makhado Municipal Council, the Vhembe District Council and the Office of the MEC for Housing in the province, Mr Joe Maswanganyi. In response to the first letter to the Premier's Office, they were promised that the matter was referred to the MEC for Local Government and Housing, and he was directed to attend to this issue. Members of the group complained that the MEC was not available when they wanted to phone him.

Another letter was addressed to the Makhado Municipality about the same issue to reconsider the name and to follow the necessary procedures but to their surprise, the Municipality was satisfied about the procedures taken prior to the naming of the town. "Kindly be informed that the name of the Municipality was decided upon after a due process of consultation of relevant stakeholders," reads part of the letter. "This Municipality is satisfied that the correct process was followed and therefore abides by its name," continues the letter.

The group also expressed its concern on this issue by saying that the Makhado name is apartheid in disguise. "It is unacceptable for this community and society at large to gallantly fight and conquer apartheid and replace it with tribalism, because tribalism unduly favours and promotes one tribal group and suppresses the others", contests the letter.

"We are not fighting with anyone or any other ethnic group, all we need as a group is that correct and appropriate procedures be followed in naming the town and secondly, the name "Makhado" is tribalistic, since it is a name based on a certain ethnic group and that is the Venda people", said Mr Jeremiah Gohell, secretary of the group.