Mpumalanga residents challenge Mbombela name change

Mpumalanga residents and Lowveld Chamber of Business and Tourism (LCBT) are to challenge the changing of Nelspruit's name to Mbombela at the Pretoria High Court on Monday.

 

A Sapa correspondent reported on June 11 that over 20,000 residents and the LCBT would challenge the move in court. Residents have raised more than R300,000 to challenge the changing of the town's name. 

 

"The decision by LCBT to challenge the name change came after an incredible 23,000 residents signed a petition in protest, giving a clear indication of what the community wanted," LCBT financial manager Linda Grimbeek said at the time. 

 

Nelspruit's name was officially changed to Mbombela on October 16, 2009. According to Grimbeek, the name change could cost the Mbombela local municipality R450 million. 

 

 

This has been a battle for some four years or so. We are very happy that it is eventually going to court.

 

The municipality is already in debt, so neither they nor the people can afford such a large sum of money to be spent on something so unnecessary. The public clearly do not want this.

 

"In this court action we are setting a benchmark which other towns are watching with keen interest. There are 52 other towns around the country who may well challenge the name changes if we win this case. Grimbeek said the outcome of the matter could set a precedent for similar cases elsewhere in the country.

 

If a sequence of events of such magnitude were to occur, it would make international news,Grimbeek added.

 

Mpumalanga culture, sport, and recreation spokeswoman Sibongile Nkosi said the department, the umbrella body for the provincial geographical names committee, would stand by the name change, unless otherwise obligated.

 

As a department we maintain the status quo that Nelspruit is now Mbombela. We will await the outcome of the court case and will thereafter act in accordance with the judgment, Nkosi said.

 

-Jacanews / Sapa