MBOMBELA – Just because the city’s name has changed, it does not mean businesses, schools and newspapers, named for the province’s capital, will follow suit.
Mr Andrew Spencer of Nelspruit Trailer Parts said, “No, I would definitely not change my company’s name. It is just a name.” He has been in business for 11 years. Asked whether he was worried that in another 11 years’ time nobody would remember Mbombela was once called Nelspruit, he joked and said he would rather sell his business than rename it.
On the other hand, Ms Sally-Ann Bruwer, manager of public relations, marketing and environment at Imperial Toyota Nelspruit, said their holding company, Imperial holdings which is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, took such matters very seriously.
“We would definitely change our name to Imperial Toyota Mbombela, but only at a much later stage. The cost is very high. Everything, from corporate identity, stationery, business cards and branding, will have to change. We would most likely phase it out slowly but will wait for it to be official once all the appeals have been done.”
The Kruger Lowveld Chamber of Business and Tourism (KLCBT) says it is still considering its options. The chamber was the driving force behind the court case against the minister of arts and culture fighting the city’s name change. Ms Linda Grimbeek of the chamber said their legal team was still studying the court’s verdict handed down on May 8 to decide whether to appeal or not.
“We are waiting for our legal team to give us options as well as expected outcomes and of course the risks. We will consider each option seriously before making a decision.”
She said the chamber was disappointed. It had cost about R700 000 to take the matter to the High Court. “We don’t necessarily agree with the court’s verdict but we respect it.”
Civil society organisation, AfriForum, has indicated it too would consider appealing the verdict on KLCBT’s behalf. Mr Ruan Lottering said they were studying the verdict to determine the merits of appealing.
“Our lawyers are looking at it. I think we may have a case. The judge did not hear the merits. She decided against setting aside the name change only on the basis of the long time it took to take the matter to court.” He said a decision in this regard should be expected next week.
He said they estimated the name change to cost local taxpayers R450 million.
Mr Joseph Ngala, spokesman for Mbombela Local Municipality (MLM), said they were excited about the ruling. “It vindicates us and confirms our belief that all along the right processes were followed during the consultations with citizens of the city and the municipality.”
The provincial Department of Culture, Sport and Recreation (DCSR) also welcomed the court’s decision. “We trust it will finally put to rest the issue around the name change. We have always maintained that all processes were followed and we feel vindicated by the court’s decision,” said Ms Sibongile Nkosi, spokesman for the department.
She said it was now up to the Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport and other implementing agents to make the necessary changes on the road signage to reflect this name change.
Grimbeek said it was hard to say how much the final name change would cost. “The direct implication is the change of marketing materials and websites and the likes. The indirect implications are the astronomical amount it would cost the municipality to change title deeds, registered home loans and general street plans.
“The municipality will not be able to afford it and would possibly raise property taxes. This would affect businesses.”
However, Ngala said the costs cannot be quantified at this stage. “Signage is done by a number of stakeholders other than the municipality. We also need to indicate that such a process is not a once-off activity. We will take a phase-out approach as has been done in other cities that have conducted the same exercise.”
He added he did not believe it would create confusion having Mbombela exist alongside White River and Hazyview in MLM. “Mbombela is not the only municipality that has been through this process. There is the eMalahleni Local Municipality in eMalahleni, its town. You also have Mangaung Metro in the city Mangaung, and there is no confusion there.”
On the other hand, Grimbeek pointed out that it was impossible to put a tourism value on the name of Nelspruit.
“Everyone has spent a lot of money on marketing since the creation of Kruger Lowveld Tourism, the chamber’s tourism leg, 80 years ago. A lot was done especially before and during the FIFA Soccer World Cup 2010. It will take a lot of work to connect the two names.”
The MEC for community safety, Ms Sibongile Manana, said that while the issue of changing the names of places remains emotive, it is a necessary process. “We do not seek to erase the history of other nations. We correct history, restore and preserve it. We do this for future generations. A nation that does not regard its history cannot be able to prepare for its future.”
