Groups wanting to retain the names of Potchefstroom and Pretoria have joined forces, civil rights group AfriForum said on Monday.
”Action Group Potchefstroom and AfriForum will pool their legal expertise and will use the same legal team for possible legal steps required for the preservation of both place names,” said AfriForum chief executive Kallie Kriel.
”Both Potchefstroom and Pretoria’s name-changing processes have been characterised by a lack of public participation — something which can be tested in court — as well as gross administrative errors.”
Both Pretoria and Potchefstroom share a common history of having been capitals of the Zuid Afrikaanse Republiek.
Action Group Potchefstroom chairperson Theo Venter said it seemed as if names were being targeted of towns and cities that were historical birthplaces in the developmental history of South Africa.
”Afrikaans and the Afrikaner played a prominent role [in them],” he said.
”Perhaps it is time for Stellenbosch to be on the lookout too!” — Sapa