DA to challenge Brandfort name change to Winnie Mandela

This comes after the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture gazetted the name change to Winnie Mandela on Friday.

The DA’s Marieta Visser says the correct process was not followed.

“We will lodge a petition to ensure that proper participation is adhered to. We are of the view that this procedure was not followed due to a lack of certain principles.”

Visser says the financial implications and impact of name changes on both the state and private sector should be quantified.

“Financial planning must take place and budgets must be adjusted to make provision for such changes. In this respect, local priorities such as service delivery must be considered.

“The DA believes that the name changing process regarding Brandfort was seriously flawed and unsatisfactory. The constitution is clear that South Africa belongs to everyone who lives in it and name changes should be carried out in this spirit, as well as the spirit of participatory democracy.

“The DA will lodge a petition to assist residents who want to comment on the name change to do so within the prescribed period in terms of the South African Geographical Names Council. Written questions will also be submitted to the Minister to establish what process, if any, was followed during the process so far.”