Back to political trenches over Pretoria name

The Freedom Front Plus expressed its disappointment with the comments of Mr. Kosientso Ramokgopa, mayor of the Tshwane metro council, concerning name changes. The FF Plus said that the party still believes that a political settlement for the name issue is possible but that polarising comments such as these, force all parties back to the political trenches.

The mayor had said at Freedom Park in Pretoria that the name Pretoria and many street names would be changed before the end of 2012.

According to Dr. Conrad Beyers, leader of the FF Plus caucus in the metro council, a political solution for the name issue is still possible. The capital should be an example for the rest of the country with regards to the solving of thorny, emotional issues.

The FF Plus said that the FF Plus leader and deputy minister of agriculture, Dr. Pieter Mulder, will be asked to discuss this issue with president Jacob Zuma in cabinet. The previous time when an attempt was made to announce the changing of Pretoria 's name in the Government Gazette, Dr. Mulder convinced the president to have it recalled.

"We had hoped that this mayor would follow a different approach than that of his processor. The mayor had at the time of his inauguration undertaken not to focus on an emotional issue such as the changing of names but rather on service delivery. Now that he is experiencing criticism with regards to service delivery he is trying to cover it up by falling back on populist sentiments of the ANC. It is ironic that such polarising comments are made at Freedom Park which is supposed to be a symbol of reconciliation," Beyers said.

The FF Plus will continue to oppose name changes on all levels - on municipal levels, in courts as well as in cabinet.

Statement issued by Dr. Conrad Beyers, FF Plus councillor and caucus leader: Tshwane Metro Council, November 22 2011

Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter