Names of streets, towns will change
Comments can be submitted at the municipal offices in Secunda.
HIGHVELD – People complaining that the process of naming and renaming of geographical features in the Govan Mbeki municipal jurisdiction is a waste of ratepayers’ money, is not an issue worth commenting on, according to Mr Henry Masango, head of Marketing and Communications of the municipality.
He said this is a legislation injunction.
Mr Masango was responding to comments made by residents in the Ridge Times of 23 May, “Name changes waste ratepayers’ money” who said the money that is being used for this process should be spent on improving service delivery.
The municipal council approved a draft list for the naming and renaming of geographical features at its council meeting on 26 March.
An advert in the Ridge Times of 2 May asked people to comment for 14 days from the date of the publication.
Mr Masango said they have run community consultations from 4 to 26 September and from 19 to 21 November.
“We therefore are done with that process.
“The names that were proposed through that process were tabled before Council for approval for public comments.”
Mr Masango said public hearings were held successfully in Bethal, Leandra and eMbalenhle from 13 to 15 May.
Bethal residents said they do not want any name that begins with Bethal, such as Bethal Dam and Bethal Cemetery, to be changed and agreed that this will be reported to the local geographical names committee.
“The committee will in turn, if they deem it necessary, convene an objection committee to further engage with that community before the names are tabled again before Council for approval.”
Comments can be submitted at the municipal offices in Secunda.
Copies of the draft geographical name change documents are available at municipal regional offices and public libraries and on www.govanmbeki.gov.za.
The Ridge Times understands that hearings did not take place in Leandra and eMbalenhle and that people who attended the one in Bethal said they were told another hearing would be rescheduled because of poor attendance.
