Afrikaners appeal to Mbeki

2005-11-18 20:41

Pretoria - President Thabo Mbeki was urged on Friday to consider the achievements of Afrikaners in establishing Pretoria, in the midst of the Pretoria/Tshwane name change process.

The SA Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns (SA Academy for Science and Art) in a statement urged Mbeki, in the name of reconciliation, inclusivity and tolerance, to consider Afrikaners' achievements in establishing the city.

The call was made at the academy's congress, themed Pretoria 150, tying in with the city's 150th anniversary.

The chairman of the academy's history commission, Fransjohan Pretorius, said although they were accused of being white - or Afrikaner-centric to prefer the name Pretoria to Tshwane, the first session of the congress was actually about Pretoria's establishment.

Part of the session he said, dealt with the area's history from the Stone Age to the time the first Europeans arrived.

The SA Geographical Names Council in May approved the registration of the name Tshwane, but the matter has not been finalised as the recommendation still has to be taken to Parliament by Arts and Culture Minister Pallo Jordan.

Jordan is to consider the public's and stakeholder responses to the issue after a call for opinions, objections and responses was published in the Government Gazette.

Pretorius said he found unsettling, a statement allegedly made by Jordan, that all towns established by whites had been established where "black towns" already existed.

Naming the metropolitan area Tshwane was an ideal solution to the issue, as long as the name Pretoria was retained for the city, said Pretorius.

The Tshwane metro council's position is that the area has been officially known as Tshwane since the 2000 municipal elections.

The council has stated on numerous occasions that the name Pretoria will remain for the city centre while the metropolitan area including Akasia, Centurion, Atteridgeville and Mamelodi would be known as Tshwane.

Should the name Tshwane be officially adopted as a geographical place name, it would appear on maps, street signs and all other official documentation.

The arts and culture department could not be reached for comment.

- SAPA