No turning back on new name

The MEC for Local Government and Human Settlement is expected to sign the new name of the NW405 Municipality – JB Marks – into existence soon.
According to the municipal spokesperson, Willie Maphosa, the municipal council adopted the new name for the amalgamated municipality of Ventersdorp/Tlokwe following an intense public participation process. All that the municipality needs to do has already been done, he says.
‘The name has been submitted to the office of the MEC for Local Government and Human Settlement to ensure that it is placed in the Provincial Government Gazette.
‘Last Friday, officials from North West Province came and scanned all the relevant documents and the portfolio of evidence to satisfy themselves that all the necessary legal procedures have been followed.
They should have already submitted a report to the MEC and she may sign a notice of the new name anytime from now,’ he said.
The new name was met with fierce criticism from opposition parties, arguing that the ANC has trampled upon democracy and disregarded the voices of the community.
After back to back tug-o-war council meetings earlier this year, which finally saw the name JB Marks being adopted on 6 June, the opposition parties raised their objections.
A DA councillor, Ané van Onselen, said at that time that the ruling party had not listened to the community. ‘They (the community) asked us to avoid irregular or wasteful expenditure and rather save money by retaining the name of Tlokwe,’ she said.
The chief whip of the independents, Lucky Mokoena accused the ANC of ‘pushing the mandate of the NW premier’ who declared, a long time ago, that the municipality would be renamed JB Marks.
The mayoral spokesperson, Victor Boqo came out strongly in defence of the name, saying ‘Tlokwe’ would not unite the people of Ventersdorp and Potchefstroom. ‘JB Marks is a stalwart, a former teacher and a member of the ANC’s national executive committee. He fought for the freedom of this country and the liberation of our people.
He died in exile in Russia in 1972,’ he said.
Despite the DA announcing that they would not take the matter to the court at the time, the independents have hinted that they may be taking the legal route with regard to the new name.