Down with Pretoria signs!

2007-08-02 23:52

Cobus Claassen

Pretoria - Down with Pretoria signs!

Beeld on Thursday confidentially acquired an internal memo of the Tshwane Metro Council advising that it planned to replace the (name)"Pretoria" on route- and direction signs countrywide with "Tshwane".

That's the latest twist in the drawn-out Pretoria/Tshwane name saga.

The acting head of roads and storm drainage, Hilton Vorster, said in the letter to the Metro Council's communication and marketing section that guidance was required on how the wording should read on the signs -'City of Tshwane' or 'Tshwane'.

The Tshwane Metro Council was constituted in 2000 but there is still no city with the name Tshwane.

The ANC has since then denied the status of Pretoria and viewed it as only a geographical area comprising a few blocks in the city centre.

All government levels will be involved

The letter indicates that all government levels would be involved in the removal of the Pretoria signs.

The Gauteng Department of Public Transport and the National Road Agency would be in charge of all provincial and national routes.

Vorster said there had been considerable vandalising of signs marking the borders of the City of Tshwane in the past.

"This is why we require a strategy to keep the hostile reaction in certain circles of the community to a minimum."

Beeld also has a letter in which Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa points out to the executive Mayor of Tshwane, Gwen Ramokgopa, that the name Tshwane has officially been in force for the metropole since 2000.

He says the council's application to approve the name of the municipality 'City of Tshwane' is therefore incorrect and suggests that it should be withdrawn.

He also "takes note" of the application to change the name and status of the "residential area" of Pretoria.

It appears as if there is a conflict

Shilowa said in his letter it appeared as if there was "a conflict between the two national laws".

"In terms of the Municipal Structures Act the MEC (of local government) should give a municipality a name when it is established.

"However, the Act on the Board for South African geographical names determines that the Minister (of Arts and Culture) must approve the geographic names of municipalities."

Shilowa said when there was a clash with any other Act, the terms of the Structures Act stipulated that it should take precedence.

"All the necessary steps can thus be taken to give effect to the official name of Tshwane municipality."

Willie Spies, MP for the Freedom Front Plus, said in response to the council's letter that it was clear that they'd decided to go ahead with the application to register the name Tshwane as a placename.

"What the council's doing now is to try to rectify their bungling by using signposts and advertisements to create the impression of a reality, in respect of a flawed and incomplete administrative process."

"Enough of this. We're scheduled to meet senior advocates in Pretoria on Friday to prepare for a possible legal process."

Ramokgopa has not responded to enquiries on the matter for the past two days.

Although she was scheduled to attend a media briefing session on an unrelated matter before Thursday's council meeting, she did not pitch up.

Console Tleane, the council's communication head, had not yet commented on the matter late on Thursday.

- Beeld