New court date set for name change case
The case to decide Nelspruit's name has been set to begin on November 12.
NELSPRUIT – The High Court case to decide the town’s name is to begin on November 12. The Kruger Lowveld Chamber of Business and Tourism’s (KLCBT) application to prevent the name from changing to Mbombela was initially set to being on August 26.
However, a double booking in front of the same judge on the same day at the Pretoria High Court caused the KLCBT’s case to be removed from the roll shortly before it was to commence. “The long and frustrating delay for the Nelspruit community will finally come to an end when the hearing takes place on November 12-13,” said Ms Linda Grimbeek, manager of finance and visitor information centres at the chamber.
The KLCBT filed an application against the minister of arts and culture two years ago, to set aside the proclamation of Nelspruit’s name to change to Mbombela. While the change has been gazetted, a vote by Mbombela council approved Mbombela City instead. As a result, both names are currently used.
Grimbeek explained that the case remained unopposed ntil the day before the hearing was to begin, when the state filed an opposing plea. The chamber’s main reason for opposing the name change is that they claim a flawed process was followed to arrive at the decision.
“The KLCBT and the Nelspruit community are eagerly awaiting finality on this matter and they are positive to receive a ruling in favour of ‘Nelspruit’,” Grimbeek said. The chamber had estimated that it needed R400 000 to pay its legal fees to take the matter to the High Court.
To make a contribution, visit the chamber’s offices at Crossing Centre or make deposits directly into the following bank accounts: Standard Bank, Nelspruit branch, LCBT, account number 330 670 689; First National Bank, branch code 270 352, Lowveld Info, account number 531 300 392 25; or Absa Bank, Nelspruit branch, Lowveld Business, account number 405 473 5407.
