More than 3 000 streets and geographical features in the Tshwane metro are still to be named.
This emerged last week at a provincial workshop in Pretoria with ward councillors and officials.
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Also in attendance was the Gauteng geographical names committee.
The absence of names was raised by chairperson for the metro’s standing committee on local geographical names Karen Meyer.
She said the new metro administration discovered the problem when it took over in August.
The previous administration had never budgeted for the erection of street name boards in the eight years of its reign.
Meyer said the new administration was intent on fixing the problem.
“The ward councillors in the standing committee on local geographical names as well as all relevant officials now have the same goal in mind,” she said.
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“We seek to ensure dignity and respect to its citizens by ensuring cultural relevant and inclusive names for each and every street, area, building and public place in Tshwane.”
So far, the new administration had approved more than 1 300 street names and geographical features.
“Unfortunately, we need alternative revenue sources to address the eight-year backlog,” said Meyer.
Chairperson of the Gauteng names committee Khensani Maluleke said ways the should be found to get money for naming streets.
“We all should explore various avenues to draw resources,” he said.
“Furthermore, we should look at options on how to pool our provincial and local resources to ensure we provide every resident with an address.”
Maluleke suggested the province could approach the National Treasury to increase its budget of R500 000 per annum to assist municipalities.
Meyer urged residents to become actively involved in the submission of names.
She said there were currently nearly 3 000 names available.
“There is a geographical names bank database consisting of approved geographical names for the metro,” Meyer said.
“The approved names will be utilised to name public places and streets that have not been named yet.”
She said the metro and its people had been invited to submit names to help populate this names bank.
“All proposed names must be accompanied by information on the language of origin, the meaning of the name and proof of the source of the name,” said Meyer.
“Proposed names should be in line with the local geographical names policy, which is available in the Tshwane website.”
In order to avoid duplication, proposed names should first be verified against the Tshwane street names.
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