MAKHADO (LOUIS TRICHARDT) – While the concerned groups opposing the change of the name of the town had thirty days in which to raise their objections, the ministerial office has no cut-off date for investigating the objections and delivering a final decision on the matter. And what is the name of the town in the interim period?

Mr M L Ralebipi, administrative secretary to the Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, Dr Ben Ngubane, was asked this week to estimate a date of finalisation of the process. He declined to furnish a date or comment on the matter.

Frustration is building up among residents who want to have the matter finalized. The repeated unfortunate and unlawful vandalisation of the name "Makhado" at the Makhado Municipality might be an indication of that frustration. Law abiding residents who object to the name change of Louis Trichardt town, however, are frustrated that their objections have not been answered yet.

Many peaceful residents wonder what the name of the town actually is during the interim time while objections are being investigated. Mr André Naudé, of the Chairpersons Association and attorney of a well-established lawyers' firm, this week said that the law is unclear on this matter. What is clear, however, is that the process cannot be officially finalized if there is an objection time and objections were raised.

The thirty-day period for objections ended on July 18 and a complaint and documentation comprising 205 pages were timeously delivered by hand to the Minister's office on July 1. In a letter dated July 3, Mr Ralebipi acknowledged receipt of the letter on behalf of Dr Ngubane and said the contents will be brought to his attention as soon as possible.

A letter from Dr Ben Ngubane to Mr André Naudé dated July 31 read: "You will be notified of the decision in the near future." This letter was an answer to a letter dated June 1, which was written even before the name Makhado was gazetted on June 6.

The most recent communication to Minister Ngubane's office regarding "Objection: Renaming of Louis Trichardt to Makhado", dated August 22 read "Please take note that it seems as if the Limpopo Geographical Names Committee (Council) was not properly constituted during the period when they had to make recommendations as the National Geographic Names Council and therefore their advices were illegal and wrong. Please investigate …" The letter also mentioned that Ward 20 representing amongst others the interest of the Hlanganani Concerned Group were never properly consulted in respect of the name change of Louis Trichardt. Mr Ralebipi acknowledged the receipt of the faxed letter on August 25 and said that the contents have been forwarded to the Department of Arts and Culture for further attention and response.

Apart from acknowledges of receipt of letters, nothing substantial has yet expired to satisfy the concerned residents. Ms Jana Smith, Chairperson of the Soutpansberg Chamber of Commerce, said that the Chamber have also received three letters containing acknowledge of receipt, but nothing further.

Ms Inga Gilfillan, secretary of the Chairpersons Association expressed the viewpoint that the name of the town is still Louis Trichardt in the interim period while all processes and coming court procedures have not yet been finalized. Mr Jeremiah Gohell, secretary of the Hlanganani Concerned Group said that their group definitely refer to the town as Louis Trichardt in the period before all court cases are finalized.