Strong reaction came after Council officially resolved to embark on its name change process.

Who was consulted on whether the name of the town should change at all? Where is the official statement on the reason why the name of Louis Trichardt should be changed?

These questions were raised by Mr André Naudé, attorney and chairperson of the CA.

"The consultation should be firstly on the issue whether the name should change at all. What makes them think that the name should change? We never received a response to our letters, put on record, asking that question. The process is so flawed that it flies in the faces of the councillors who accepted the recommendations on the name change," said Mr Naudé on July 31.

This follows after Council accepted several recommendations on the name change of Louis Trichardt at the Council meeting of July 26, including that the mayoral naming committee must recommend all the names in priority order to Council. The naming committee must provide a detailed motivation and/or supporting documents for the recommended names.

The municipal spokesperson, Mr Peter Magwala, confirmed that all the recommendations on the name change were accepted by Council. The list of venues and dates for consultation had been published. The question arose why the residents of Louis Trichardt were not allowed to decide on the name of the town where they reside and why people staying far from town should decide.

"The town of Louis Trichardt belongs to all people of the Makhado Municipality. They buy here and work here. All must submit proposals because the town belongs to all of them," said Magwala.

The reaction of the CA was that it was absolutely ridiculous that others decide on the name of a town where they are not residing.

"By the same token, the residents of Louis Trichardt should decide on the names of all the other places. Only those who reside here should decide whether there is any reason to change the name. It all forms part of a manipulation process," Naudé said.

The item on the name change was put on the agenda on the same page as the confidential items and the media were requested to leave when those items served.

"Why were the media not allowed and why is there no transparency? What does Council have to hide? They are seemingly acting like an enemy of transparency and good governance. The process is flawed with hidden agendas because of the fact that resolutions are made in secret," said Naudé.

The naming committee has been enlarged to 12 members, including two traditional leaders, six ANC councillors and one councillor of the ACPD, UDM, DA and ID each.

"I want to state clearly that they were appointed because they are members of Council and not because of their affiliation to a political party," Magwala said.