Question NW3558 to the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture
10 November 2023 - NW3558
Mogale, Mr T to ask the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture
What (a) has he found to be the reasons for the slow pace of towns and street name changes across the Republic, particularly in the Free State and (b) measures has he taken to speed up name changes”
Reply:
(a). The slow pace of change to the names of our towns, cities and streets can be attributed to many factors. The South African Geographical Names Act 118 of 1998 does not provide for government at national level to actively propose name changes as the Minister has to take decisions on names submitted to him by applicants. Local communities are prioritising service delivery matters like housing, employment, water, and electricity over the transformation of our naming landscape. The cut in the budget allocations for the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture makes it increasingly difficult to conduct major public awareness campaigns on radio, television, and the social media.
(b). The pace of name changes in the Free State has been very slow. The South African Geographical Names Council held an awareness campaign in Bloemfontein on the 28 of June 2023.
During the awareness campaign all district municipalities and the Provincial Geographical Names Committee were given information on the process that needs to be followed when names of streets, towns and cities are proposed to be changed. This process includes public consultation with the local communities. This awareness
workshop was livestreamed to the public in the Free State to create community awareness on the urgency to transform South Africa’s naming landscape.