Who is footing the bill for the municipal name change?

This is the question on the minds of the community of Potchefstroom. They want to know whether the funding will come from the province or national government.

Hans-Jurie Moolman, the DA caucus leader, says the recently amalgamated municipality is struggling to keep the lights on for the people in Ventersdorp yet it regards the luxury of a name change as a priority.

‘If the province has made money available for the name change, why has there not been the same level of intervention in addressing the basic needs of the poor in our communities? Why can’t the money be used to address the destitute instead?

‘This situation is no different from those in other South African municipalities where mayors get luxury vehicles while there is no money in the bank and the municipality has become dysfunctional.

‘If the DA was faced with the serious financial challenges we are currently facing-brought about by a forced amalgamation marriage – we would have prioritised and addressed the basic needs of the poor and the most destitute first, before going on a spending spree on luxuries like name changes. I guess it is a matter of priorities and shows the commitment to what is important and what really matters,’ he said.

According to Willie Maphosa, the council spokesperson, however, all work related to the rebranding of the municipality is being funded by the national Department of Cooperate Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta). ‘We have budgeted an amount of about R 900 000 for this purpose, including the current public participation process to determine the name, logo and colours of the municipality,’ he says.

Maphosa says the ward-based public participation meetings as part of the process of finding a new name for the Potchefstroom/Ventersdorp merger started on Tuesday and will end on 27 February.

He has called on the community to submit and suggest names for the new municipality. The processes range from public meetings, written submissions through to drop boxes placed in various municipal buildings and a dedicated email address, newnamenw405@tlokwe.gov.za. The municipality hopes to have a new name by the end of June.