POLITICS

Xingwana changes Pretoria's name on the sly - AfriForum

Willie Spies says minister's action reeks of blatant malace

AfriForum will take all possible legal steps to retain Pretoria's name

The civil rights initiative, AfriForum, will meet with senior advocates in Pretoria tomorrow morning to consider legal steps with which the registration of Tshwane as place name can be set aside. This follows after it has come to light that the Minister of Arts and Culture, Lulu Xingwana, published Tshwane as place name in the Government Gazette on Friday, 29 January 2010.

AfriForum's legal representative, Willie Spies, said in his response that Minister Xingwana's action speaks of blatant malice. Currently a lawsuit is still pending regarding the status of the name of Pretoria and this case was set to go to trial on the 25th and 26th of March 2010. By means of her publication in the Government Gazette, the Minister has sent the clear message that she does not respect the sub judice rule and the accompanying constitutional principle of the division of authority.

An announcement regarding AfriForum's future legal action in response to these latest developments, will be made soon.

The relevant pages of the Government Gazette follow below:

 

Statement issued by Willie Spies, AfriForum legal representative, February 1 2010

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