Public has 30 days to object to Grahamstown renaming
The Department of Arts and Culture says members of the public who want to object to the changing of Grahamstown's name to Makhanda have 30 days to do so.
The department has been reacting to reports that lobby group, 'Keep Grahamstown Grahamstown' had written to Minister Nathi Mthethwa.
The group had argued that the notice published in a government gazette last Friday was defective.
Advocate Jock McConachie said the notice made no reference to the fact that people have the right to object to the name change, or where objections could be sent.
The Department's Asanda Magaqa says the process is governed according to the South African Geographical Names Act of 1998.
"All the complaints the Minister receives will be dealt with according to Section 10 of the Act, which makes provision for anyone complaining, that he or she should do that in writing to the Minister from 30 days from the date of publishing," she said.
The group had argued that the notice published in a government gazette last Friday was defective.
Advocate Jock McConachie said the notice made no reference to the fact that people have the right to object to the name change, or where objections could be sent.
The Department's Asanda Magaqa says the process is governed according to the South African Geographical Names Act of 1998.
"All the complaints the Minister receives will be dealt with according to Section 10 of the Act, which makes provision for anyone complaining, that he or she should do that in writing to the Minister from 30 days from the date of publishing," she said.