Shilowa speaks out on Pretoria
2005-04-27 20:49
Johannesburg - Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa on Wednesday criticised a group of people which objected to Pretoria's name being changed to Tshwane, telling a Freedom Day rally that they were misleading people.
A number of people, including a group called the Pretoria Action Committee, wanted to stop the city's name from being changed to Tshwane.
Shilowa said after Wednesday's rally at the Union Buildings that the municipality had been known as Tshwane since 2000.
"We are very clear on this. We do not have Pretoria in Pretoria. It is Pretoria in Tshwane, just as we have Mamelodi in Tshwane, Centurion in Tshwane and Soshanguve in Tshwane.
"Save Pretoria from what? Because this entire municipality that we are in is Tshwane. It is not Pretoria. It will never become Pretoria," he said.
The premier appealed to some groups, including the Afrikaanse Taal en Kultuur Vereeniging which attended Wednesday's rally, not to be misled by people who want to "claim easy victories".
- SAPA