The name change of Pretoria to Tshwane took another step forward on Thursday when the South African National Geographical Names Council unanimously approved the recommendation.
Tommy Ntsewa, chairperson of the council, said in Bloemfontein the approval for recommendation was granted after thorough deliberation.
The council took four hours to approve the Pretoria-Tshwane recommendation during the first morning of its two-day sitting in Bloemfontein to decide on 35 name changes.
Ntsewa said despite objections received, the council could not find anyone that said that he or she would materially or adversely be affected by the registration of the new name.
”We therefore found no reason not to recommend to the minister to approve this application,” said Ntsewa.
When asked if the council was happy with the aspect of public participation in the process, Ntsewa said that according to the documents before the council, there was public participation.
He also swept aside criticism about his participation in helping to prepare the application.
Among other name changes being considered is the Blyde River in Mpumalanga, which may be renamed the Motlatse River. Stakeholders in the tourism industry are against the change.
Ntsewa said the council’s recommendations will be forwarded to Minister of Arts and Culture Pallo Jordan for a final decision.
The Tshwane metropolitan council recently saw widespread protests against its plan to change the name of Pretoria.
Opposition groups complained that there had been no public participation to test the acceptability of the name Tshwane, and that no alternatives had been offered or considered. — Sapa