PRETORIA NAME CHANGE DEATH KNELL FOR RECONCILIATION

"The ANC's plan to get rid of the name of Pretoria before the World Cup Soccer sends a clear message of increasing divisions between South Africans and incites alienation on a large scale," Mr. Jaco Mulder, MPL and provincial leader of the FF Plus in Gauteng said.

The FF Plus has for years been giving its all, along with civil organizations such as Solidarity, AfriForum, the FAK and other organizations to retain the name of Pretoria . The party will shortly be in court again, alongside AfriForum to rescue Pretoria 's street names.

"If all South Africans want to live alongside each other, they will have to respect each other's cultures, heritage and diversity and will have to help build a new shared heritage. The announcement of Mr. Sputla Ramakgopa, ANC chairperson in the region, that the process will be hastened with the support of the Minster of Arts and Culture, could lead to a new revolution. In these types of circumstances I can identify myself with fewer things in South Africa . The Afrikaner and other minorities' heritages are increasingly being ignored in a new liberal democracy and crime, poor education and service delivery cause more South Africans to feel increasingly alienated. Alienation leads to emigration and revolt," Mr. Mulder said.

The FF Plus has maintained the moral high ground through negotiating and proposing win-win solutions. The ANC on the other hand remains irresponsible with inflammatory announcements such as this one. It is time for South Africans to stand up against this type of arrogance. Every South African who is tired of this should show it. This issue should now be addressed once and for all at the highest level.

The FF Plus and other groups' proposals that Pretoria is retained as city and the Metropolitan area is known as the Tshwane Metro Municipality, or as is the case of Washington DC, the option of Pretoria DT (District Tshwane) remain as compromises.

"The ANC is arrogant to expect us to offer expertise and help build a country while we are being ham-shackled through affirmative action and identity murder. We shouldn't and won't accept it any longer.

Statement issued by Jaco Mulder, FF Plus MPL and Provincial Leader: Gauteng, January 27 2010

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