Louis Trichardt residents are attacking the validity of the rural Limpopo town’s name change to Makhado in a case being fought in the Pretoria High Court.
The Louis Trichardt Chairperson’s Association on Thursday asked the court to set aside the name change agreed to by the South African Geographical Names Council and Minister of Arts and Culture Pallo Jordan.
There was an outcry by thousands of inhabitants of the town — among them the Soutpansberg Chamber of Commerce and the Hlangani Concerned Citizens Group — when the decision was gazetted in June 2003.
The Chamber of Commerce contended that the name change was not economically viable for the business sector. It would cost the town an unaffordable R18-million.
The Chairperson’s Association, representing more than 80 000 members, claimed that with less than one percent of the inhabitants of the entire municipal area consulted about the change, the process was flawed and invalid.
They submitted that the majority of inhabitants opposed the name change.
Counsel for the Association Denny du Preez argued before Acting Judge MK Legodi that there was no consultation with the largest ward — which accounted for 51% of the area and included the town of Louis Trichardt and all businesses.
Ward councillor Marie Helm said it had been impossible for her to call a meeting of such a large ward in the few days allowed. A public meeting in the town had been advertised for a specific date, but had been held a day earlier without any notification, resulting in a very small attendance.
Du Preez said it was clear that the few meetings that were held were poorly attended and not representative.
He said it was clear the town council was instructed by the provincial minister to change the name, regardless of consultation, and that the consultation alluded to in court papers was a delusion.
The Names Council and Minister insisted that the erstwhile Louis Trichardt was the main centre of the territory which was commonly known as Vendaland and dominated by the Venda people, to whom Makhado was a very important historical figure.
The applicants, however, maintained that Makhado was not the name of a person, but an institution and that Louis Trichardt was in any event never part of Venda.
They said Louis Trichardt was an indigenous, pre-colonial name that was the first name for the town and never displaced any other name.
Submitting that there was nothing unlawful in their decision, the Minister and Council contended that there was no substance in the application and that it should be dismissed.
Legal argument in the application will continue on Friday. – Sapa