Pretoria name change faces opposition

Published Feb 22, 2012

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Several interest groups will oppose the government's plans to rename South Africa's capital city Tshwane, it was reported on Wednesday.

AfriForum, the Freedom Front, and the National Taxpayers' Union said they were against the name change and that they would form a united front to prevent the government from carrying out its plan, Beeld reported.

Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane, and Arts and Culture Minister Paul Mashatile said on Monday that the Pretoria name change issue had to be concluded by the end of 2012.

Freedom Front leader Pieter Mulder told the newspaper the proposed name change was a politically strategic move to score points in the run-up to the ANC's leadership elections in December 2012.

“Renaming a capital city is not something you conclude in a hurry. Reconciliation and co-operation are being pushed to the background for the sake of ANC interests. We will fight this on all levels, because it's unnecessary,” Mulder said.

Mashatile said he planned to hold meetings between the city council, AfriForum and other interest groups before a final decision was made. – Sapa

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