MAKHADO (LOUIS TRICHARDT) – All businessmen and residents of the area are requested to put a hold on the name change of Louis Trichardt to Makhado, pending the outcome of legal action.

The decision of the Minister of Arts, Science and Culture to reject objections against the controversial changing of the name of Louis Trichardt, is to be taken on review.

The local Chairpersons Association has decided unanimously to take this decision on review. The Minister, Mr Ben Ngubane, has been informed of the decision and requested to put a hold on all name changes until the finalization of the review.

The Chairpersons Association took this decision on the advice that their chances of winning the matter on review are very probable. It is clearly emphasised that the Chairpersons Association is not against a Venda name, but that the real objective of the Association is to see to it that the residents of the area be properly and reasonably consulted on all levels of decision making by the local and other authorities, in order to first establish the need for such a change and secondly in order to establish as to what decisions should be made in respect of such a need.

In a media release this week, the Chairpersons Association says consultation is regarded as a basic principle of a democratic society. Whenever an authority acts otherwise, then this will be regarded - as in the instance of the controversial name change – as an undemocratic approach. The implementation of such undemocratic decisions is totally unacceptable to the communities of South Africa. The motive behind the objections to the name change is not at all political of nature and also not in resistance to meaningful change. The constitution of the Chairpersons Association forbids and prevents any kind of political involvement.

It is the view of the Association that whenever change is initiated, the proper consultation channels should be followed. Any organisation should rule in the interests of its members and not in its own interests, thereby ignoring the real needs of the people.

The Association says the decision to take the matter on review is absolutely based on the principles of good and transparent governance and on the normal requirements of a democratic society, in line with Administrative Justice Act 3 of 2000.

In a letter to the Minister, the Association says its members are convinced that the process in respect of the proposed name change was seriously flawed. Accordingly, the members instructed the Association to bring an application to the High Court to review, or alternatively to take on appeal, in order to set aside the decision, to change the name of Louis Trichardt.

The application will be filed within two to three months.

The Association urgently called on the Minister to advise the relevant authorities to desist in the interim from carrying out the proposed changes, until the finalization of the review, "in order that all parties involved retain their dignity and save enormous expenditure, should the decision be in favour of our clients".