PIETERSBURG - The ad hoc committee on the renaming of the Northern Province has announced a short list of four names, from which the final choice will be made.

Committee chairperson Edgar Mushwana told a media briefing in Pietersburg that the four names - Limpopo, Great North, Capricorn and Mapungubwe - emerged most frequently during the six week nomination process. Altogether 250 names were submitted by the public, before the closing date last Tuesday.

Mushwana explained that the committee had used certain criteria, in arriving at the short list. The submissions had to be well motivated, and names had to have wide support, while also having the potential to unite the province's people. In addition, they had to be marketable, and have historical signifiance.

He summarised the merits of each of the short-listed names, and mentioned the support each one had received during the nomination process.

The name Limpopo, which comes from "ilimphopho", a Ndebele reference to the river of waterfalls, emerged forty nine times. Several major rivers, notably the Letaba, Mogalakwena and Sand Rivers, flow into the Limpopo, which is seen as a source of life to its dependants. It also forms the province's boundary with three neighbouring states.

The term Great North, which dates back to the time of Cecil John Rhodes, was, and still is, used to refer to the road linking the Cape with the rest of Africa. The name, nominated seventeen times, also describes a very large area, while also signifying the pride the people of the province feel about the region they call home.

Capricorn was mentioned sixteen times. The name distinguishes the region from others, because this is the only province in South Africa through which the Tropic of Capricorn passes.

The name Mapungubwe refers to "the place of the jackals". It was the name given to a civilisation, which existed long before colonisation. The people of Mapungubwe, west of today's Messina, smelted iron and traded with India, Egypt and China.

The committee has scheduled public hearings throughout the province, to gather grassroots comments from all population groups. Thereafter, a report will be submitted to the provincial legislature. The name is to be announced officially by Premier Ngoako Ramatlhodi, when he opens the 2002 session of the Legislature on February 14.