EASTERN CAPE NEWS - The Democratic Alliance (DA) is demanding the complete public participation record for proposed name changes affecting Lady Grey, Sterkspruit and Herschel in the Senqu Local Municipality, raising serious questions about whether communities have been properly consulted.
The Eastern Cape Provincial Geographical Names Committee (ECPGNC) is considering applications to rename Lady Grey to Inkosi Makhobeni, Herschel to Inkosi Lihlongo, and Sterkspruit to Inkosi Mpangazi.
Mapetla Mohapi has also been put forward as an alternative name for Sterkspruit.
Correspondence from the Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture (DSRAC) invited stakeholders to a meeting at Bensonvale Hall last week to discuss the applications.
DA Shadow MEC for Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture Leander Kruger MPL said said it remains unclear whether this meeting formed part of a properly advertised public participation process, who was invited, how widely residents were informed, and what opportunity was given to those unable to attend to submit written comments.
He noted that when DSRAC advertised public hearings in Senqu in May last year, the proposed changes listed included Barkly East and several geographical features, but Lady Grey, Sterkspruit and Herschel were not among the town names published in that notice.
DA Shadow MEC for Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture Leander Kruger MPL. Photo: Facebook
“Public participation cannot simply become a procedural formality used to legitimise decisions that have effectively already been taken,” Kruger said.
He pointed to earlier this year, when more than 38 000 objections were lodged against name changes affecting Graaff-Reinet, East London, Aberdeen, Adendorp and Barkly East after residents raised concerns about the consultation process.
Kruger said he will write to DSRAC MEC Sibulele Ngongo requesting the full record on the Lady Grey, Sterkspruit and Herschel applications.
This includes the original applications and motivations, research conducted, proof of public notices and advertisements, minutes and attendance registers from consultation meetings, all written comments and objections received, and any recommendations already made by the ECPGNC.
The DA also wants clarity on whether further public hearings will be held before the applications proceed to the South African Geographical Names Council.
“The DA supports redress, reconciliation and the recognition of our diverse history. But forced or poorly consulted name changes do not unite communities,” Kruger said.
“Meaningful consultation requires that residents be informed before decisions are made, given a genuine opportunity to participate, and assured that their views have been considered.
“Decisions affecting the names, identities and heritage of communities cannot simply be imposed from above. Government should be focused on changing lives, not names.
"At the very least, when it chooses changing names, it must listen to the people who live there.”
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