Bloem faces name-change
2005-11-08 10:02
Jeanne-Marie Versluis
Bloemfontein - This city's name might change to that of a white horse named Thabure if approved by Minister of Arts and Culture Dr Pallo Jordan.
The Free State place names committee has received proposals from the public to rename Bloemfontein, six Free State towns and two rivers.
There is apparently a backlog in the Free State in the renaming and naming of geographical landmarks compared to provinces like Limpopo.
According to Mario Sefo, from the Free State department of sport, arts, culture and science, and chairperson of the place names committee, Thabure is the first proposal for another name for Bloemfontein.
Thabure was the horse of Basotho chief Lerotholi. A satellite post office in the city has already been named after this horse.
More name changes likely
Some of the renaming proposals included that Harrismith's name be changed to Mengkhoaneng, Fouriesburg to Fothane, Senekal to Kuretlele, Ficksburg to Joalabeholo, Ladybrand to Mabolela, Clocolan to Hlohloloane, the Sand River to Tikoe and the Vet River to Tikoane.
The proposed names were apparently the names of the different towns and rivers before it received "modern" names, said Sefo.
The committee received more than 20 proposals.
The proposal for Bloemfontein's name change was submitted by the Sotho culture organisation Mokgahl'a Thesele.
Historical value
The secretary-general of this organisation, Mmamothibele Sehlabo, said this name would "recapture the history of the nation".
"The regiment that was led by Lerotholi stood out because he was riding a white horse," she said.
Sefo said the Free State had a backlog regarding name changes. "It is a continuous and time-consuming process because of all the procedures that have to be followed. The committee is busy with a campaign to make people aware that they can propose names.
Certain place names were spelled incorrectly and needed to be corrected.
- Volksblad