By Zinkie Sithole and Justin Arenstein
Mpumalanga's largest industrial city, Witbank, is set to get a new name as part of government's bid to rid the province of offensive colonial and apartheid legacy.
The city will, Mpumalanga Arts and Culture MEC Nomsa Mtsweni proposes, be renamed Emalahleni (isiZulu for "place of coal") in honour of pre-colonial miners.
"The process of name changes is about rewriting our history and preserving our heritage... it is about reclaiming and restoring our dignity," Mtsweni explains.
Provincial authorities have, however, conducted no historical research to verify whether coal was actually mined or even known in the area prior to colonisation.
The Mpumalanga Geographic Names Committee (MGNC) also doesn't employ any historians, anthropologists, or archaeologists to substantiate or contextualise historical arguments for proposed changes - or to protect existing heritage or tourism assets.
"It's not our duty to check the factual accuracy of any proposed new names.
"All we're supposed to do is ensure that there was some sort of public consultation, that there are not any substantive objections, and that the new names don't duplicate existing names," says MGNC chairperson John Skhosana.
Mpumalanga has changed 49 place names, mostly rivers and other natural landmarks in three years.
The most controversial change saw Mpumalanga's most important international tourism icon, the Blyde River Canyon, renamed the Motlatse Canyon in the face of fierce resistance from the tourism industry.
Skhosana downplayed the controversy this week, and confirmed that a further 40 proposed changes were about to be forwarded to Arts and Culture Minister Pallo Jordan for approval. The proposed changes include two other large Mpumalanga towns, with Standerton likely to be renamed Sakhile (isiZulu for "we're here to stay"), while Kriel is likely to be renamed Kwanala (isiZulu for "abundance").
Malelane's name will also likely be corrected to Malalane, in honour of a legendary pre-colonial Swazi warrior.
Other settlements likely to be renamed in honour of African heroes include the village of Grootboom which will be renamed Mangcuzu in honour of Swazi royal Mangcuzu Dlamini, Kameelrivier village which will be renamed Babethu in praise of the Ndebele royal house, Schoemansdal which will be renamed Kamatsamo in honour of Prince Matsamo Shongwe, and Mgobodzi village which will be renamed KaMawewe in honour of Prince Mawewe Mkhatshwa.
Anti-apartheid icons will also be honoured, with the village of Tweedronk likely to be renamed Zibhebhuville in memory of local murdered liberation icon Zibhebhu Nyembe, while Ackerville will be renamed Thomas Mahlanguville in honour of executed liberation activist Thomas Mahlangu, and Eerstehoek will be renamed Ekulindeni (isiZulu for "place of waiting") to commemorate apartheid-era forced removals in 1975.
Offensive village names will also change, with Kafferskraal changing to Ezimbuthumeni, Boesmanspruit changing to Waterval, Kafferskraalkop to Endlulamithini and Boesmanskraal to Empangeleni.
Skhosana said if "anyone really feels strongly about the matter, they have until August 23 to lodge objections with Minister Jordan.
"They are also welcome to publicly debate the matter to see if their views are supported by other South Africans." - African Eye News Service