City of 'Tshwane-Pretoria'?

2009-07-02 16:05

Pretoria - An opportunity exists to solve the Tshwane/Pretoria name issue permanently, the Freedom Front Plus said on Thursday.

Conrad Beyers, FF+ councillor in the Tshwane metro, said the name issue should be solved at a political level to halt further polarisation of the city's diverse communities.

"During the Confederations Cup, a combined name Pretoria/Tshwane was used on advertising boards without giving offence to anyone.

"There is a worldwide tendency to use combined place names to accommodate minority groups.

"We can also find a solution here without any camp having to lose everything,"

He said the manner in which KwaZulu-Natal was given a combined name, and the way in which both "Die Stem" and "Nkosi Sikel 'iAfrika" were included in the national anthem, should serve as examples on how a solution could be found.

"There is a golden opportunity for a huge step forward for reconciliation in South Africa by solving the name issue in a mutually acceptable way.

"The FF Plus asks that the history of all communities, both black and white, should be respected.

"The final name should include both Pretoria and Tshwane in order to settle the dispute permanently."

- SAPA