Anger over new Beacon Bay name ‘premature’ – BCM

UPSET Beacon Bay residents, the Border-Kei Chamber of Business and the DA, who are objecting to the proposed name change of Beacon Bay to KuNondyilo, have been urged by Buffalo City Metro to desist from agitating and to rather take up the invite to participate in next week’s public hearings organised by the Eastern Cape Geographical Names Committee. The business chamber, Beacon Bay Ratepayers and Civic Association and DA were yesterday drumming up signatures for an online petition objecting to the proposed name change.

BCM spokesman Samkelo Ngwenya appealed to residents and the organisations to save their energy for the hearings set to take place in different areas of the metro from February 12 to 26.

The chamber hosted the online petition forms on their website and residents without the internet were urged to visit the Spargs Mall and sign a paper petition today.

BCM Ward 28 DA councillor Marion Mackley said the name KuNondyilo did not speak of the history of Beacon Bay and would harm business and tourism.

Ngwenya said: “I should think signing a petition is premature because people will be afforded an opportunity to object at the meetings and advance their reasons for agreeing or disagreeing with the proposed names.

“The key word here is ‘proposed’, meaning this will be the will of the people as per the democracy we enjoy in this country.”

A big part of the consultative process involved providing background information.

This would educate people about the city’s legislated obligations and the reasoning behind the proposed names. Ngwenya said the hearings were an independent process which sought maximum public participation and extensive consultation.

“We will also be loud hailing in the areas and we have sent out invitations to various stakeholders.”

KuNondyilo is one of 35 proposed names put before the city council in October last year which were then to be taken back to communities in the form of public meetings. The names were proposed by BCM residents at public hearings held earlier last year.

They include the proposal to change Southernwood to Tebekana, Amalinda to Malinde, Quigney to Mhlonyane, Gonubie to Qunube, King William’s Town to Qonce, Duncan Village to Ziphunzana, Chalumna to Tyolomnqa, Gulu to Krulu and Macleantown to Mpongo. —