KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Arts, Culture, Sport and Recreation, Ntombikayise Sibhidla-Saphetha, has urged all stakeholders involved in the geographical naming process to work together to ensure that the process of naming, renaming and standardisation of geographical names is fast tracked.
Speaking at a two-day capacity building workshop on geographical naming in Richards Bay, Sibhidla-Saphetha said KwaZulu-Natal has a multitude of names that were wrongly spelt and as a result a great deal of time is spent on correcting such names. “I am optimistic that in our deliberations, we will come up with strategies of how to overcome this challenge.
She pointed out that another challenge facing the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Geographic Naming Council was that a number of places still needed to be renamed but a thorough research and consultations should be conducted through public hearings. “The changing of the sign boards in the province has been going at a snail’s pace. I believe that after this workshop, all these challenges will be put behind us, said Sibhidla-Saphetha.
She singled out the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) and Transport as key in the geographical naming process. She said that the Department of Transport was critical in the implementation of approved and gazetted names on the road sign boards and COGTA was key in encouraging cooperation of the municipalities.
“As the MEC responsible for Arts and Culture, I will engage my counterparts at a cabinet level to expedite the process of standardisation of geographic names,” Said Sibhidla-Saphetha.
She said that of paramount importance was to continue to make the point that the standardisation of geographical names was an integral part of nation building and promotion of social cohesion.
For more information, contact:
Mluleki Mntungwa
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