Pta protest against name change

2005-05-21 11:51

Pretoria - The old South African flag, the Vierkleur and Blue Bulls rugby flags were hoisted in Church Square on Saturday by a crowd of about 500 people protesting the change of the name Pretoria to Tshwane.

After a brief speech and instructions from television personality Steve Hofmeyr, the crowd of young and old proceeded to the Arts and Culture Department where a petition outlining the objection to the name change was delivered.

The march was organised by Pretoria Civic Action, a group made up of businesses, and cultural organisations.

The march was to end at 11:15, in time for the start of the Blue Bulls Super 12 semi-final clash with the Waratahs, in Sydney, to be broadcast on a big screen erected on the Square.

Organisations participating in the march included the Gauteng North Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Federation of Afrikaans Cultural Organisations (FAK), and the "Pretoria remains Pretoria" group - consisting of 27 organisations and political parties including the Democratic Alliance and the Freedom Front Plus.

The Tshwane Metropolitan Council voted in March to register the name Tshwane with the SA Geographical Names Council as a place name. This would see the metropolitan area being renamed with only the city centre remaining Pretoria.

Successful registration of the name would see it being used on road signs, in weather reports, and all official documentation.

- SAPA