The Gauteng Division of the High Court of South Africa in Pretoria has set aside the name change of Louis Trichardt to Makhado. As a result, the matter will be referred back to the Makhado Municipality to conduct a public consultation process.
Every change, standardization or revisiting of a place name has to be initiated either by groups of citizens, acting together, or by municipal authorities, exercising a popular mandate.
The Makhado Municipality will have to initiate a new consultative process based on the new public mandate. We respect and abide by the decision of the High Court that a new process of public consultation takes place.
Name change is an essential part of national identity and nation building and cannot be legitimate without the full participation of the people.
For further information and details, call:
Sandile Memela
Spokesperson for the Minister of Arts & Culture
Cell: 082 800 3750
