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The Democratic Alliance in the Dr Beyers Naude area, in collaboration with civic organisations has submitted four petitions to the Office of the Speaker of Parliament against the name changes of four of the towns in the local municipality.

Following a single application, the names of Graaff-Reinet (to Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe), Aberdeen (to Camdeboo or Xamdeboo), Nieu-Bethesda (to KwaNoheleni) and Adendorp (to KwaMseki Bishop Limba) look set to become the next victims of the virulent Eastern Cape Provincial Geographical Names Change Committee.

A combined total 3,365 written petition forms and 5,350 online petition signatories are a clear demonstration of the opposition to the name changes from residents of the affected towns as well as the broader community of Dr Beyers Naude.

The submission of these petitions to Parliament is another tool the DA is using to ensure that the voices of the citizens are heard in what is clearly a process with a pre-determined outcome by a committee hell-bent on pushing its own agenda on the Eastern Cape. Despite assurances to the contrary, we are not of the opinion that this process is transparent and fair and we have reservations about the public participation process followed and the weighting of the wishes of the community in the final determination by the Minister.  Particularly given that less than 100 people were given the opportunity to speak across the eight public hearings, despite hundreds of people attending.

For that reason, we have copied in Minister Zizi Kodwa on our petition submissions to the Office of the Speaker in order to ensure that he is alerted to the extent of the opposition to the proposed name changes. It is of cardinal importance that the wishes of the people who will be directly impacted by this decision are conveyed to the decision-makers at every single opportunity.

We remain hopeful that our objections, our opposition and our concerns regarding the validity of the entire process will be taken into consideration by the Minister when he makes his determination.  Failing which, we will be ready to lodge our objections within the 30-day period allocated for such.

We are a country in crisis but our government would rather focus on name changes than changing lives.  The DA will continue to fight against the proposed name changes and with a proper mandate after the 29 May General Election we will rescue our small towns, the Eastern Cape and South Africa.

Issued by Samantha Graham-Maré MP - Dr Beyers Naude Constituency Leader