Pixabay
Arts and Culture Minister, Nathi Mthethwa has rejected all objections to the 23 geographical name changes in the Eastern Cape.
The changes were gazetted in February.
These name changes included the change from Port Elizabeth to Gqeberha, Uitenhage to Kariega, King Williamstown to Qonce, East London Airport to King Phalo Airport, and Port Elizabeth Airport to Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport.
"The ministry and the department received a number of objections including three boxes with petition signatures of 12,402 residents of the Nelson Mandela Bay that were sent through to the office of the executive mayor, as well as 690 emails with objections to the name changes," the minister’s spokesperson Masechaba Khumalo said.
She says these objections are provided for in Section 10 of the South African Geographical Names Act 118 of 1998.
"The renaming of geographical features is also done in line with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which recommended the renaming of geographical features after those who contributed towards the attainment of freedom and democracy as part of symbolic reparations", Khumalo said.
Commenting, Nelson Mandela Bay executive mayor, Nqaba Bhanga, said “we are concerned that the more than 65 000 objections to the name changes have been disregarded.”
He said the Minister has missed an opportunity to correct this grave violation of participatory democracy, saying during the initial name change process, only 393 persons participated, whereas more than 65 000 residents have objected to these name changes.
Bhanga said while “we are not opposed to name changes, it should be a unifying process."
“We are considering all options available to us, including the outcomes of the soon-to-be-released judgment in the Makana name change matter. We will make an announcement in this regard soon,” he said.
