Objections to the renaming of Grahamstown
Minister of Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa has received over 300 objections to the proposed name change of Grahamstown to Makhanda.
"Three-hundred-and-thirty-two complaints have been received. Most if not all have made allegations of lack of consultation, cost implications, historical sentiments and claims that the government gazette on the 29 June 2018 was defective because it did not state the fact that the publics has one month to object or complain to the minister's decision," said the minister's spokesperson Asanda Magaqa.
Mthethwa gazetted the approval of renaming Grahamstown to Makhanda after receiving recommendations from the South African Geographical Names Council.
"The process that the ministry of arts and culture is currently embarking on is to acknowledging and responding to each and everyone's letter, by the end of the week the process shall be completed," said Magaqa.
Magaqa said it is not unusual for the minister to receive complaints when a town is being renamed.
"It is the minster considered view that those who have written to him to object the gazetted name change have displayed the positive traits of active citizens."
Makhanda and Makana both honour Makhanda kaNxele, a warrior who fought against the land dispossession of the Xhosa under colonialism in various battels including one where he led an attack against the British garrison at Grahamstown in 1819.
Grahamstown falls under the Makana municipality that is located in the Eastern Cape with a population of under 70 000 people.