Louis Trichardt officially renamed

THE town of Louis Trichardt in Limpopo has been renamed Makhado despite complaints by concerned ethnic groups. Limpopo's Geographical Names Committee chairman advocate Tommy Ntsewa said Arts, Culture, Science and Technology minister Dr Ben Ngubane had accepted the new name after thorough consultation was done with the local communities. He said the nearby township that was previously called Makhado would now be Dzanani, and Dzanani post office would now be called Mphephu post office. The Hlanganani Concerned Group complained at the start of the renaming process last year that other ethnic groups in the area, namely Pedis, Tsongas, Indians and Whites were being deliberately excluded from the renaming process by the "predominantly Venda" council. The group complained that Makhado was a Vha-Venda chief, and that they would prefer a neutral name that didn't favour one tribe over another. But Ntsewa says that democracy has ruled in the matter. "Democracy dictates that if the majority decide on something, the minority should accept," Ntsewa said. (African Eye News Service)