Public urged to participate in latest proposed name changes

Concerned Eastern Cape residents have until July 24 to object to name changes of several towns, rivers, dams and other geographical features including Queenstown to Komani, Elliot to Khowa and Lady Frere to Cacadu.

3 Jul 2015

Buildings of the University of Fort Hare in Alice, via Wikimedia Commons

Buildings of the University of Fort Hare in Alice, Morné van Rooyen, via Wikimedia Commons

In an advertisement published on 1 July 2015, the Department of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture called on communities to submit inputs on the proposed changes.

"Members of the public are hereby notified of an invite to comment on the outcomes of public hearings on standardisation of geographical name conducted by the Eastern Cape provincial geographical names committee," it said.

After public hearings changes were suggested including Mt Frere to kwaBhaca, White River to Xonxa, Mt Ayliff to MaXesibeni and Mzintlana River to Mzintlava River.

Last year, other names submitted to the department included Komga to Qumrha and Nahoon to Nxarhuni.

Earlier this year, Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa officially gazetted the following changes: Port of Coega to Port of Ngqura, Toise River to Toyise, Komga to Qumrha, Xora to Xhorha, Toleni to Tholeni, Nqeleni to Ngqeleni and many others.

Other suggestions in the Buffalo City Metro were not considered as there were concerns over the quality of evidence submitted.

Provincial geographic names committee chairman Samkelo Janda said it was significant for the public to participate in the process.

"This is government's way of giving the communities an opportunity to share their knowledge about these geographic areas."

Janda said that after the committee received input from the public, it made recommendations to the national geographic names committee.

"Our national arm in turn recommends the names to the minister . [who] will then gazette the names based on all the evidence."

Political analyst Somadoda Fikeni submitted several changes to the committee.

"Through the 25 years of research I have done on the history of amaXesibe and Mt Ayliff . dating back to the 1800s I came across this information through interviews with traditional leaders and community elders.

"If there is anyone with a different knowledge, I will be happy to know," Fikeni said.

Source: Herald

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