Lydenburg takes on new name
2006-09-06 19:11
Cape Town - Arts and Culture Minister Pallo Jordan has approved Lydenburg's name change to Mashishing.
The proposed name change was done in terms of the South African Geographical Names Council Act, he said.
Jordan said he was satisfied that every provision of the law had been followed in the proposal by Thaba Cheweu municipality that the name of Lydenburg be changed to Mashishing.
The process started in the municipal council on August 13 2005, and was debated in the chamber with arguments for and against being tabled.
Public opinion was tested on August 18 2005 by the local authority and the proposal forwarded to the Mpumalanga provincial geographical names committee for discussion and then to the South African Geographical Names Council.
Petition of objection
"They then sent that, together with a number of others published in the government gazette of June 30 2006 to my office for approval."
Jordan said he had also seen the petition of objection that a delegation from the area brought to his Pretoria office on July 28 2006.
"Today, I am formally announcing that I am approving the name change. The name of Lydenburg will be changed to Mashishing."
After deliberations on the matter, he had not found any compelling reasons why the change should not go ahead.
It was now within the legal right of all stakeholders concerned to go ahead and implement the name change through signs and other forms, said Jordan.
- SAPA
