AFRIFORUM TAKES BATTLE FOR PRETORIA STREET NAMES TO COURT

AfriForum will oppose the Tshwane Metropolitan Council's decision to change 25 Pretoria street names in court. A lawyer's letter has also already been sent by AfriForum to the Metro Council in which the Council is asked to put the implementation of the decision to change the 25 street names on hold, pending the outcome of the proposed court case.

If the Metro Council were to fail to give AfriForum a written undertaking by 16 April 2012 to do so, AfriForum will approach the North Gauteng High Court to obtain an interdict against the implementation of the street name changes before the conclusion of the proposed court case against the name changes.

According to Kallie Kriel, CEO of AfriForum, AfriForum had already approached the court in 2008 regarding the proposed changing of Pretoria street names that are being changed now, but the case was removed from the court roll after the Metro Council had declared under oath in court documents that no name changes would be made before an additional process of public participation had not been followed.

"The Metro Council's unilateral decision to forge ahead with the name changes now, amounts to a blatant violation of this undertaking that justifies AfriForum's legal action," Kriel added.

Kriel emphasised that AfriForum had been prepared to find a solution for the dispute about Pretoria's name and street names by means of discussion. "AfriForum will however not allow itself to be bluffed by the changing of street name of a particular cultural historical significance in the light of vague undertakings that the name of Pretoria might possibly be saved in the process," Kriel said.

The lawyer's letter of AfriForum to the Metro Council is available at www.afriforum.co.za.

Statement issued by Kallie Kriel, CEO: AfriForum, April 2 2012

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