The Chairpersons Association will vigorously defend any name change from Louis Trichardt to any other name without hesitation.

"If the Council or any other authority still enforces the name change, then that will mean nothing else than collective racism in its most extreme form against a minority group…" reads a media statement of the CA on the way forward.

The CA won its appeal court case with costs when the court ruled on March 29 that the name change of Louis Trichardt to Makhado be reviewed and set aside. The judgment is referred to as Chairpersons’ Association versus Minister of Arts and Culture (2007).

"There is no foundation to change the name Louis Trichardt to any other name or even to start the process," said Mr André Naudé, chairperson of the CA, and gave four reasons for that statement.

Firstly, the change of the name of Louis Trichardt is not in terms of any international or national guidelines. Secondly, Louis Trichardt as a person was an anti-colonialist because he moved inland, away from the Cape, to get away from the colonial powers. Thirdly, the geographic area where Louis Trichardt is now situated as a town, was originally Louis Trichardt and there was no other town there originally, "therefore a correction will not be applicable at all." In the fourth place, "Louis Trichardt was a peacemaker and never involved in any racist activities and/or any wars."

The CA warned that enforcing the name change, which equals "collective racism in its most extreme form", may result in collective racist practices against minority groups such as the Shangaans, the Vendas, the Buysdorp people, the Indian people and the Afrikaans- and English-speaking people, depending on who is governing the Council as a majority political party.

"These practices will be regarded in an extremely serious light and will be taken up with the Human Rights Commission and further litigation will definitely flow from that. The CA is prepared to follow the processes once again, up to the highest court," Naudé said

The office of the Minister of Arts and Culture, Minister Z Pallo Jordan, replied to some of the questions of the Zoutpansberger.

Spokesperson Mr Sandile Memela stated on April 2 that their department "upholds the rule of law and thus unconditionally welcomes the decision of the Appeal Court to reverse the name of Makhado back to Louis Trichardt." Memela states that the decision is not against the name-change process per se.

"Instead, it simply points out that there was not ‘adequate consultation’ to give people a sense of ownership and belonging to this legitimate and democratic process."

Officials of the Department of Arts and Culture will hold discussions with the municipal council to discuss the way forward. Details will be released as soon as decisions have been made.

"It is the people of a particular place and area who will decide what their area should be called, after following a due legal process. The same applies to Louis Trichardt where the people will perhaps embark on a more representative consultative process," says Memela, He states that there is no reason to believe that this marks the reversal of name changes that have taken place in other parts of the country.

"We hold the view that the processes were legal, consultative and representative. Geographical name change is a law of the country to redress historical imbalances and thus contributes to national transformation. In fact, it is widely acknowledged to be a gesture of ‘symbolic reparations’."

The second respondent in the court case, the Chairperson of the South African Geographical Names Council, said through the secretary, Mr Trueman Kubhela, that they respect the decision of the appeal court and are still studying the judgment and consulting with their legal consultants.

The spokesperson of the Makhado Municipality, the third respondent in the case, Mr Peter Magwala, said on April 2 that they were studying the judgment.

"Thereafter, the mayor will make a statement on the official position of the municipality. Very soon we will have a press conference for the media fraternity and members of the public," Mr Magwala said.