Why Bok fan wants R75 route named after Rassie Erasmus

Springbok superfan Lubabalo Mpongoshe wants Eastern Cape’s R75 route to Despatch to be renamed after Rassie Erasmus.

High on Rugby World Cup victory fever, Mpongoshe has lodged a formal application with the Eastern Cape Provincial Geographical Name Committee (ECPGNC) proposing the name change.

Speaking to The Citizen, Mpongoshe said a reflective conversation with his cousin after the Springbok’s momentous victory sparked an ‘aha moment’ for him.

“Something hit me, that this man [referring to Erasmus] has been behind the Springbok’s success, but also its transformation,” he explained.

The R75 route runs from Gqeberha through to Despatch, Erasmus’ hometown – Mpongoshe believes that renaming the road after the former Springboks’ coach would be a fitting tribute.

“We need to honour this man because he has demonstrated unity,” he said.

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Throwback moments

Mpongoshe has met his hero before – and his expectations were exceeded.

The former Rugby player sat across Erasmus at a dinner table in Cape Town some years ago, alongside other retired sportsmen, where a conversation between Erasmus and politician Mosioua Lekota caught Mpongoshe’s attention.

“Is Rugby doing the transformation South Africa needs?” said Mpongoshe recounting what he said was Erasmus’ question to Lekota.

The Bok fan said that moment for him signified Erasmus’ authentic agenda to unite South Africans through Rugby.

“He’s done it… and that requires nothing but an accolade of being honoured through a main route, in a metropolitan where he was born,” Mpongoshe told The Citizen.

As a rugby coach himself, Mpongoshe said self-belief and unity were two key lessons he’s learnt from Erasmus, adding that he instills those values in his players.

“Those lessons should not only stick with us, but must [also] be passed onto the younger generation,” he said.

Succeeding in his application would be more than just about immortalising Erasmus’ name, but living a lasting legacy for future generations.  

“Even our kids, their kids and great grand children will remember him as a man with [exceptional] values,” he concluded.

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Identity matters

The ECPNGC confirmed it had received the application proposing the R75 name change.

“We have received the proposal, and will now log it in our system,” ECPGNC Chairperson, Christian Martin, told The Citizen.

“In the province, this is the first time the committee has received an application for a place to be named after a sportsman, highlighting the role of sport in nation building,” he said.

A name change is a lengthy process with numerous steps involved, which include satisfying certain criteria and hosting public hearings.

According to the South African Geographic Names Council (SAGNC) handbook, geographical entities named after persons should be in accordance with the stature of the persons concerned.

Written permission should also be obtained from the specific individual before the person’s name is used – so in this case, Erasmus would also have to give a thumbs-up.

When it comes to cost concerns, Martin said every department had a budget set out to fulfil the transformative agenda – which includes name changes.

“The transformation agenda of South Africa is important,” he told The Citizen, adding that most landmarks still reflected SA’s colonial history, nearly three decades into democracy.

“We want South Africans to identify with South Africa,” he concluded.

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