Arts and Culture Minister Pallo Jordan has approved Lydenburg's name change to Mashishing.
The proposed name change of Lydenburg was done in terms of the South African Geographical Names Council Act, he said in a statement.
Jordan said he was satisfied that every provision of the law had been followed in the proposal by Thaba Cheweu Municipality that the name of Lydenburg be changed to Mashishing.
The process commenced in that municipal council on August 13, 2005, and debated in the chamber with arguments for and against tabled.
Public opinion was tested on August 18, 2005 by the relevant local authority and the proposal forwarded to the Mpumalanga Provincial Geographical Names Committee for discussion and then to the South African Geographical Names Council.
"They then sent that, together with a number of others published in the government gazette of June 30, 2006 to my office for approval."
Jordan said he had also seen the petition of objection that a delegation from the area brought to his Pretoria office on July 28, 2006.
"Today I am formally announcing that I am approving the name change. The name of Lydenburg will be changed to Mashishing."
After deliberations on the matter, he had not found any compelling reasons why the change should not go ahead.
It was now within the legal right of all stakeholders concerned to go ahead and implement the name change through signage and other forms, Jordan said. - Sapa