This follows after a statement from Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa, that he has approved the name change.

According to the DA member of the National Council of Provinces, George Michalakis, the party is in the process of lodging an objection to the renaming of the small town due to a lack of public participation.

“The DA noted yesterday the name change of Brandfort that was gazetted in the Government Gazette. As far as we can establish, there was no meaningful public participation. For that reason, we are assisting the public with a petition, as well as an objection form that will be sent to the Minister in terms of the South African Geographical Names Council Act. 

"Public participation is a cornerstone of our democracy and where name changes take place, it must be done in consultation with the community. We need to take ownership of what the town is called,” said Michalakis.

Meanwhile, Mthethwa stated that the Brandfort name change is one of the ways that the department is honouring the late Winnie Mandela’s legacy as the Women’s Day celebration draws closer under the 2021 theme “The Year of Charlotte Mannya-Maxeke: Realising Women’s Rights”.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi