Pretoria - A final decision on Pretoria’s name change could be taken before the end of this year.
Public hearings on the name change (Pretoria to Tshwa-ne) were held at several venues at the weekend.
Submissions are open until November 6. After that a report will be compiled and processed, including perusal by the SA Geographical Name Change Committee, before being handed to the arts and culture minister for endorsement.
Portfolio committee on public place and street names chairman Sizwe Mthethwa said on Sunday that he would meet his team on Mondayto look at submissions made at the public meetings. “A process needs to be followed before a final decision is taken.”
Mthethwa said he was not aware that the public hearing scheduled for the Refilwe community hall, near Cullinan, was cancelled due to a poor turnout.
Foto24 photographer, Lisa van Deventer, was heckled by some people when she took photos inside and outside the venue. She was told that this was “a private meeting” and could not take pictures.
Mthethwa said: “I am not aware of this. I will consult with my team to find out what happened. I will only be able to comment once I have received the report.”
At a packed Pretoria City Hall, speakers, especially Afrikaans-speaking ones, who were against the name change were heckled.
ANC councillor Oscar Mathafa, who acted as programme director, from time to time reminded the audience to allow people the chance to have their say.
Those who called for the name change cited reconciliation, social cohesion and the reinstatement of the history of the Tshwane people. The name Pretoria held no peaceful meaning “and if kept would only deepen the pain of apartheid”.
One speaker said: “Pretoria goes down in history as the capital of apartheid. It is identified by forced removals, hangings and other atrocities, why should it be kept?”
Others said their forefathers had paid the ultimate sacrifice to lay claim to the name of the city.
Speaking to loud cheers, blowing of vuvuzelas and clapping, the woman said: “They died so we could share their legacy with our children, and proudly tell them the history of their country through the names of our streets and cities,” she said.
Others accused the ANC-led government of trying to destroy Afrikaner history. “You should stop this at once or face the consequences… you are pushing us”.
The cost implication was brought up several times, with speakers suggesting the money spent on changing the name of the city would be wasted as it only served the ego of the ruling party.
Capital City Business Chamber chief executive Fanie du Plessis said the focus was wrong: “Our priorities are wrong; we are confused in our goal to create a better future.”
ANC councillor Johnny Mohlale told the gathering to shift their focus from financial issues because pain had no price.
Some street names, such as Pretorius and Paul Kruger, remained - an indication that no one was being marginalised.
Citing examples of other countries that had changed the names of major cities to satisfy history, he said: “When people ask that derogatory, offensive names be changed you listen, never mind the cost.”
Mayoral committee member for city planning and economic development Subesh Pillay said some suburbs had retained their old Afrikaner names for the sake of reconciliation. “Any message that the ANC had undermined the rich Afrikaner heritage is unfounded… we need to call our capital by something we can all call our own.”
In response, one speaker said: “Being fed crumbs by maintaining some Afrikaner suburb names is no consolation; I ask myself if I will still have a place in the new Tshwane, if my children will have a place here.”
Pretoria News