The municipal process of renaming streets in the Mbombela Local Municipality (Mbombela/Nelspruit, Barberton, Hazyview, Kaapschehoop, Skukuza, White River) is once again underway.
The timing of this sudden urge to change street names proves that it is just an election gimmick to re-open old wounds and drive the ANC’s message of supposed liberation home.
On 22 February 2022, the local municipal council was informed of the name-changing process.
At the time, conditions were set out, including that the financial implications of renaming the 15 streets in Barberton, Nelspruit, White River and Hazyview should first be disclosed to councillors.
Up to date, no financial references indicating the costs have been disclosed and yet the Municipality has commenced the process.
The Municipality should rather focus on economic growth, outside of its traditional tax base areas, than on name changes. Any money spent on renaming existing streets in these areas should rather be spent on service delivery and infrastructure in rural areas.
The financially strapped Mbombela will not benefit from changing street names; it will only succeed in annihilating history with the sole aim of garnering votes for the ANC in the upcoming 2024 general elections.
The following streets have been identified for name changes:
- Nelspruit: Piet Retief Street, Bester Street, Anderson Street, Brown Street, Ferreira Street, Henshall Street, Old Pretoria Road and Voortrekker Street.
- Barberton: Kruger Street.
- White River: Danie Joubert Street and Theo Kleynhans Street.
- Hazyview: Stormvoël Road, Tarentaal Street and the R40 main road.
The FF Plus will fight this tooth and nail to ensure that taxpayers’ money is not squandered.
Stop the proposed name changes in the Mbombela Municipality (1)
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