Pretoria name change process on hold after enormous support for the retention of the name

Civil rights organisation AfriForum welcomed the decision by the Tshwane Metro Council to put on hold their attempts to change the capital city's name and to relook the matter only after next year's national election. According to AfriForum, the Council decision was influenced by the enormous public support for Pretoria which was mobilised by the civil rights organisation's campaign for the retention of Pretoria's name.

Within a few days after the campaign was launched, more than 160 000 members of the public made their voices heard for the retention of Pretoria's name by SMSing their name to 31481. The Metro Council a few months ago cancelled public participation meetings, which were to be held on 12 October this year, in reaction to the enormous support gained for the name.

According to Kallie Kriel, CEO of AfriForum, the decision to put the name change process on hold is a victory to all who - through social media and via SMS - put pressure on the Metro Council to not go ahead with the name change process. "The Metro Council's plan to evade the results of last year's public participation process, in which 81 % of participants supported the retention of Pretoria's name was stopped in its tracks by the practical demonstration of the overwhelming support for Pretoria's name," Kriel said.

Kriel emphasized that the latest victory with the cancellation however does not mean that the battle for Pretoria's name has been won. According to him AfriForum and supporters of Pretoria should stay on the alert and keep on supporting Pretoria's name. "It's necessary, as the ANC will proceed with the name changing process if they suspect that support for the capital city's name is weakening," Kriel added. 

According to Kriel, AfriForum's legal team is ready to fight the matter in court if the Council decides - after the election - to go ahead with the name change.

Kriel thanked the public on behalf of AfriForum for their continued support for the retention of Pretoria's name, "as the warding off of the name change over the past eight and a half years would not have been possible without the overwhelming public support."

Statement issued by Kallie Kriel, CEO: AfriForum, December 18 2013

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