MAKHADO (LOUIS TRICHARDT) – "We regard the story that the mayor of Makhado Municipality 'fears for his life' as a publicity stunt." This was the response by a spokesperson of the Hlanganani Concerned Group, following an article which appeared in a national publication on June 29.

Mr Jeremiah Gohell, Secretary of the Hlanganani Concerned Group, was particularly upset about the paragraphs where the insinuation was made that the Hlanganani Concerned Group had made death threats. The callers allegedly threatened the mayor, Councillor Brighton Tlakula, for renaming the town. "We view the words 'He suspects the three black callers were linked to a concerned group that advocates the name of Hlanganani for the town' in very bad taste," said Mr Gohell.

Gohell said that if the story was more than a publicity stunt, then the Hlanganani Concerned Group distance themselves from it.

"The Hlanganani Concerned Group has no reason to make anonymous phone calls. We write letters. And what is more, the current dispute about the name change is not with the mayor any more but with the Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology. We are disputing a case, not a man. So it is senseless for us to threaten anybody's life."

Mr Gohell added that they have never advocated the name Hlanganani for the town.

"We have proposed the name Zoutpansburg, because it will then be named after a mountain and not after a person."

The Hlanganani Concerned Group regard themselves as peaceful and law-abiding people who uphold the rule of law.

"If the story is true, then we sympathize with the mayor. If it is investigated and a member of our group found to have been part of it, the member will be dismissed," said Mr Gohell