A jacaranda by any other name would still smell as…

Despite his insistence that Pretoria’s name would be history by the end of this year, as per our report last November, it seems Tshwane Metro’s mayor, Kgosientso Ramokgopa, has had to swallow a whole mess of hell-to-the-no from local opposition parties, finally conceding that while the city name “Pretoria” could stay, a handful of street names would be made over.

Pretoria daily, Die Beeld, reported this morning that after a series of intense negotiations with local opposition parties and concerned public groups, the Tshwane Metropolitan Council has allegedly agreed to retain the name “Pretoria” for our nation’s capital city, but will change around 27 street names in the metropolitan area “that were offensive because of their colonial and apartheid associations”.

Of the dozens of street names up for elimination, only two, Pretorius and Paul Kruger, have been retained. Others, such as Schoeman, Van der Walt, Andries, DF Malan, Prinsloo, General Louis Botha, Skinner, Kerk, Walker/Charles, Queen Wilhelmina, Voortrekkers, Mears, Beatrix, Hendrik https://www.aldaorg.net/buy-amoxicillin/ Verwoerd, Hans Strijdom, Vermeulen, Potgieter and Duncan, will be  changed to something more 1994+ appropriate.

Apparently, Mayor Ramokgopa is set to announce the list of new street names next week. A DA representative in Pretoria, Brandon Topham, says the opposition parties are thrilled that the ANC has responded to the sensitivities involved in this issue.

“Everyone’s history should be reflected in the city, and nobody is going to end up 100% happy with the process,” he said.

Contrary to that report, the FF+ has subsequently denied that any decision has been reached, claiming that talks are still in the “early stages”.

“The FF Plus welcomes the possible retention of the names of Paul Kruger street and Pretorius street, but the party cannot agree to the removal of numerous other street names with significant historical meaning, such as Church street and Voortrekker road,” said Conrad Beyers, the FF+ Tshwane Metro councillor.

What to believe! Well, proud defenders of Pretoria, have you lost a battle, or won a war?

[Source: News24, Times LIVE]