Afrikaans academics
31 January 2007
On 22 January 2007, the Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr Pallo Jordan,
received a letter from the pen of Mr Kallie Kriel, Chief Executive Officer
(CEO) of AfriForum, requesting that the Minister interact with a panel of
Afrikaans academics and historians chosen by AfriForum regarding proposed
changes to geographical names.
In response to Mr Kriel's proposal the Minister wrote as follows:
Dear Mr Kriel,
Proposal for an AfriForum panel of historians and academics.
I hereby acknowledge, with thanks, your letter dated 22 January 2007. I note
with some concern that you have already disseminated its contents to the media
even before you have received my response.
The matters you raise are of great moment to the South African community as
a whole and I have in the past tried to explain my Department's attitude
towards them.
Firstly, let me re-state that it is not this Department which initiates the
changes of the geographical names of any feature of the South African
landscape. The legislation governing the change of geographical names, the
South African Geographical Names Council Act (Act 118 of 1998) is available for
inspection on the Department of Arts and Culture website, http://www.dac.gov.za.
As you will note from the legislation, the South African Geographical Names
Council (SAGNC) established in terms of the legislation is the body that
receives recommendations from local authorities or groups of concerned citizens
to change a geographical name. The SAGNC, after due consideration, then
recommends name changes to the Minister who is free to accept or reject its
recommendations.
In the case of the recommended name change of Pretoria, I have sought to
consult as widely as possible before making a final decision. The strength of
feeling on the matter from all quarters convinces me that caution on the matter
was the wisest course.
Secondly, please note that the SAGNC is made up of a number of experts drawn
from civil society, including a number of academics. Would it therefore not be
proper, if the academics you have approached are in earnest, for them to offer
their consultative services to the SAGNC rather than the Minister?
Thirdly, a question arises: Why have these academics, thus far, not offered
their services to the SAGNC if it is their view that SAGNC has not availed
itself of all the expert opinion that deserved to be heard? The legislation
clearly makes provision for such. Opportunities to interact with the SAGNC were
available even after the recommendations were forwarded to my ministry.
Despite these reservations, I am prepared to meet the academics whom you
have recommended, but solely in their capacity as South African citizens, who
have a right to approach their government on matters that concern them.
As citizens, the opinions and views of these academics carry no more weight
than those of any other concerned citizen. As far as I am concerned the
statutorily established body, the SAGNC, is the body whose opinions I am
obliged to weigh. It is that body that you and your colleagues should in future
approach on these matters.
Lastly, should you not be a little more cautious about allegations that
Afrikaans place names have been singled out? I doubt that you have done
exhaustive research on the matter and as the Minister responsible I can assure
you that inspection of name changes will demonstrate that your allegation is
unfounded.
You should contact my personal assistant, Mrs J Hendrickse, for an
appointment on a date suitable to us both.
Yours sincerely,
Mr Z Pallo Jordan
While the Minister appreciated Mr Kriel's desire to handle the issue in a
constructive manner, he expressed his dismay that AfriForum and Mr Kriel did
not deem it appropriate to include academics and historians other than
Afrikaners in their panel, suggesting that their concerns are solely sectional
and in pursuance of the ethnic and linguistic anxieties of only one portion of
the South African population.
For further information contact:
Sandile Memela
Spokesman for the Ministry of Arts and Culture
Tel: (012) 441 3008
E-mail: Sandile.Memela@dac.gov.za
Issued by: Ministry of Arts and Culture
31 January 2007
Source: Department of Arts and Culture (http://www.dac.gov.za/)
