MAKHADO – "A moment of joy and happiness has once again characterized our municipality," said the mayor, Cllr Brighton Tlakula, when it was announced during a media conference on Tuesday, that the name of the town Louis Trichardt, is now officially Makhado.

Tlakula addressed the media shortly after the announcement by Adv Tommy Ntsewa, the national chairperson of the South African Geographic Names Council, that the Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, Dr Ben Ngubane, had promulgated the name Makhado for Louis Trichardt. It was also published in the Government Gazette of Friday, June 6.

Ntsewa also announced that the name of Dzanani was approved for the former Makhado and Mphephu for the former Dzanani.

Mayor Tlakula added that the renaming of the towns was characterized by consultations, talkback shows, marches, accusations and counter accusations and confrontations in some instances. According to him, the South African constitution consists of democratic principles and values, which allow the residents to exercise their rights. "We are happy that eventually, the majority of our residents were able to speak loud and clear about what they want," he added.

The mayor expressed the desire that residents should "move over and above ethnic, tribal or racial divisions. I want to urge all of us to support them and regard this process as closed," he said. He emphasized that the residents must understand that there has been no winner or loser in the process of the changing of the towns' names and that democracy has been the winner.

According to him, instead of dividing the communities, the renaming of towns must unify them more than before. He also announced that the official launch of the names would take on June 27 at the show grounds. It will also coincide with the launch of the Coat of Arms, Tlakula said.

In reaction to a question about the 30-day period in which objections against the names can be filed, Adv Ntsewa said the municipality must continue with its arrangements and that it should deal with objections if and when any arrive. "I hope that the process will continue smoothly without any objections," he added. He also acknowledged that there will be more changes in names in the area and in the country in future, due to the fact that some names duplicate others, while some are offensive names. In this regard he referred to the Hendrik Verwoerd tunnels.

In referring to the 30-day period of objections, Cllr Moses Tseli, Municipal Chief Whip, stated that it is not only a period for objections, but also a time when those who are supporting the new names, can show their support for the decision.

Mirror received the following press release from the local Chairman's Association shortly after the announcement by Cllr Tlakula and Adv Ntsewa: The Chairman's Association does not regard the name change from Louis Trichardt to Makhado as final. We also do not regard the name change as representing the will of the residents of this area. As the Chairman's Association, we represent some 21 000 people, as well as residents of this area of which some 7 000 signatures were submitted to oppose the name change. The Chairman's Association is going to lodge a complaint in terms of Section 10 (3) of the South African Geographical Names Council Act, Act 118 of 1998 to the Minister. The Minister has to, in terms of Section 10 (4), refer this complaint to the Names Council for advice in terms of Section 10 (5). The Minister has to inform the complainant with a reason for the approval or the refusal of the complaint. If the complaint is refused, then the Chairman's Association will take his (Minister) decision on review, depending on his reason furnished. The Chairman's Association regards the advertisement in the Government Gazette as procedurally unfair and that did no administrative justice as the public is not informed, in terms of Section 10 (3), that they will be allowed to lodge their complaints in writing within 30 days to the Minister.