Process of naming municipality intensifies
The Department of Local Government and Human Settlements in Bokone Bophirima Province is satisfied with the process of finding a permanent name for Ventersdorp – Tlokwe NW405 Local Municipality following the completion of public participation process meetings end of February 2017.
Since the beginning of February the municipality has been engaging with communities of Tlokwe and Ventersdorp to solicit opinions and suggestions on the new name of the municipality. Over this period no less than 34 ward based meetings were held.
The current name, now also simply known as NW405, is a temporary and transitory one. It reflects and broadly represents the merger process between the erstwhile municipalities of Tlokwe and Ventersdorp.
“We are satisfied with the community meetings which have granted the people of Potchefstroom and Ventersdorp as well as civil society organisations equal opportunity to make inputs and representations on the permanent name of the merged municipality” remarked MEC Galaletsang Fenny Gaolaolwe.
Apart from the community consultative meetings drop boxes were placed in all municipal and government buildings where people submitted written submissions.
The proposals for the name must meet one or more criteria involving the recognition of people, places, events, or environmental characteristics unique to either Potchefstroom or Ventersdorp.
The closing date for written submissions was February 27, 2017. The Council’s Naming Portfolio committee will meet early on March 8, 2017 to sift through the suggestions and submissions it has received. The committee will then make a recommendation to Council for consideration.
This will then be followed by the publication of the name for residents to comment over a period of 14 days. The process to craft the logo and colours of the municipality will begin immediately after the announcement of the name and will be completed by the end of June 2017.
Council will finalise a decision on the name, vision and mission by mid-May and it will possibly be made public either shortly before or during the State of the City Address.
Enquiries:
Ben Bole
Cell: 071 566 1399
E-mail: msbole@nwpg.gov.za
