Former state president FW de Klerk has come out against the renaming of Pretoria, saying such a move would be contrary to the notion of reconciliation.
”There appears to be an increasing tendency to excise the history and traditions of minorities from our emerging national identity,” he said in a statement on Friday.
”The spirit of compromise, inclusivity, consultation and reconciliation … has been replaced by a new insistence on imposing majority agendas and symbols on the whole country — including its minorities.”
The metro council of the capital city wants the metropolitan area renamed to Tshwane, with the name Pretoria retained for the city centre only. Moves are currently under way to register Tshwane as a place name with the South African Geographical Names Council.
De Klerk said Pretoria has a central and honourable place in South Africa’s history.
”It is the symbol of the anti-colonial war that Afrikaners fought against the British empire — which was one of Africa’s earliest liberation struggles,” he said. ”I accordingly call on the government to reconsider its decision.”
Changes to accommodate the traditions of black South Africans are necessary, said the former state president. However, where such changes are at the expense of other communities, genuine consultations should be held.
This appears not to have happened in this case, resulting in what De Klerk described as ”a sense of community grievance”.
He added: ”We must find ways of dealing with these issues such as this in a manner that will build national unity and not result in community alienation.”
A protest march against the proposed name change is to be held in Pretoria on Saturday. — Sapa