Gqeberha — still time to object

Three weeks to register concerns with Mthethwa

The Gqeberha name is not permanent — yet.

Despite arts and culture minister Nathi Mthethwa’s announcement on Eastern Cape name changes giving the impression they were set in stone, residents and other interested parties still have about three weeks to register objections.

The renaming of Port Elizabeth to Gqeberha, Uitenhage to Kariega and the Port Elizabeth International Airport to the Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport has set tongues wagging in Nelson Mandela Bay and other parts of the country.

Major political parties in the Bay have also expressed concern about the processes that were followed.

But yesterday, Eastern Cape sports, recreation, arts and culture MEC Fezeka Nkomonye acknowledged the public still had 30 days from Mthethwa’s announcement and gazetting of the new names to lodge objections with the minister.

She initially told the Herald that “the name-change decision is final”, but pressed further acknowledged that the 30day objection period was still in play.

Nkomonye said the minister had received name-change recommendations from the SA Geographical Names Council which, in turn, received and scrutinised submissions from the Provincial Geographical Naming Committees.

“If an objection is lodged now, then the minister will once again check if procedure was followed correctly.”

She said the correct procedure would have included advertisements in the media and on posters inviting public participation.

Furthermore, the Provincial Geographical Naming Committee would also have had to have meetings with local businesses and other stakeholders to discuss the proposed changes.

“Objections can be in any form.

“If the objector feels the name cannot or should not be changed, he or she must submit reasons or proof to that effect.”

The name change saga continues to be a hot topic in the country

A petition circulating among the public to retain the name of Port Elizabeth had racked up 48,290 signatures by yesterday afternoon while the situation in Makhanda would also be monitored closely.

The change of name from Grahamstown in 2018 is still subject to an appeal due to be heard in the city’s high court next month.

Asked about the situation in Makhanda, Nkomonye said the objections to that name change had already been dismissed by a court.

“We are not aware of further objections on that name.”

The Herald questioned the MEC about the costs that would be incurred in respect of signage and branding as a result of the name changes.

But she said that was rrelevant.

“We insist that we cannot put a price tag on a transformation project that seeks to restore the dignity of the indigenous people of this country.

“Challenges facing our communities must be addressed but that can’t take away from the mandate that the department has of promoting social cohesion and contributing to the transformation agenda of the country.”

National sports, arts and culture department spokesperson Zimasa Velaphi said objections should be sent to the

minister. Asked about the petition and what would constitute a substantial figure in the view of the department, she said the number was not significant.

“The Act does not specify who should object and neither does the Act prescribe the number of objectors as long as they are lodged within 30 days of the gazette.”

The latest name changes were announced in a statement on the department of sport, arts and culture’s website on February 25.

In the statement, Mthethwa said the changes had been gazetted.

In the last paragraph, though many appeared to have missed it, he noted: “The SA Geographical Names Act provides for objections within 30 days from members of the public in instances that they are not happy with the gazetted name changes.”

For Jock McConnachie, spokesperson for the “Keep Grahamstown Grahamstown” movement, a lack of clarity around the objections process amounted to deception.

He said he had sent letters asking for clarity to the spokespersons for both the minister and the MEC on February 28, copies of which The Herald has seen, but had so far received no response.

He said their appeal against the Grahamstown change, due to come before court on April 26, partly related to process — and this argument pertained to the latest batch of name changes as well.

“According to our submissions, the first notice in respect of the latest crop of name changes as gazetted on February 23 is defective; namely that it does not advise members of the public that they still have the right to object within one month,” McConnachie said.

“Nor does it provide an address to which objections or complaints must be submitted or the date by which they must be submitted.

“The impression is thereby created that the notice is final and it is clear that that is also how it is understood, with no attempt being made by the minister’s office to correct it.

“For that reason we say it is a deliberate deception.”

The ANC has also expressed reservations.

In a statement last week issued on behalf of ANC regional task team co-ordinator Luyolo Nqakula, the ANC noted concerns and complaints regarding how the processes unfolded.

“We are of the view that more avenues of engaging communities in the renaming process must happen.

“The fact that a range of constituencies from different sectors and interest groups might not have been comprehensively brought on board or sensitised, unintentionally increases tension and disillusionment about the renaming process and its desired outcome,” the statement said.

The DA also strongly opposed the name changes.

ACDP councillor Lance Grootboom said the party was of the view that the name change was not a priority to the city.

“The main concerns in our city are unemployment, crime and gang-related violence, overcrowded schools and lack of municipal service delivery.”

Meanwhile, several businesses which have the names of Port Elizabeth or Uitenhage in their names seemed unfazed by the changes.

The owner of a steel supplier, who asked not to be named, said changing his company’s name would be a waste of time.

“The name will stay the same.

“I have clients who have been doing business with me for many years and I see no reason to change anything.

“This name change is nothing more than a waste of time and money,” he said.

In Makhanda, a number of businesses have stuck to Grahamstown and have not seen any negative impact in their trade nearly three years down the line.

Grahamstown Hydraulics and Pneumatics owner Stephen van der Walt said he had never even considered changing the name.

“My business has been doing well and I registered with the name Grahamstown in 2018 after the new name was introduced.

“To be honest, I don’t think many people take these name changes seriously.”

Those wanting to comment on the name changes can do so at presidentrsa@presidency.gov.za as well as rofhiwam@dac.gov.za, leonahs@dac.gov.za and mark.mandita@ecsrac.gov.za