South Africa: On Friday, the 23rd of September, the Pretoria News published an article titled, “Royal family rejects renaming of the municipality after AB Xuma”.
The article indicates that the AmaQwathi Royal Council distance itself from plans by Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa and the Engcobo Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape to rename the municipality after former ANC president Dr AB Xuma.
The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture and its Ministry would like to clarify that Minister Mthethwa does not have any jurisdiction over the naming and renaming of municipalities.
The naming and renaming of municipalities are the responsibility of MECs responsible for local government in terms of sections 16 (a) and (b) of the Local Municipal Structures Act 117 of 1998.
The Minister responsible for Sport, Arts, and Culture is responsible for features of national concern, including villages, towns, cities, rivers, dams, and airports. This mandate is in terms of the South African Geographical Names Council Act 118 of 1998.
The two pieces of legislation make it clear that Minister Nathi Mthethwa has nothing to do with the proposed renaming of the Engcobo Local municipality, as no legislation gives him any mandate to be involved in the proposed renaming.
The article confused the mandate of the Minister responsible for the naming of features of national concern with the local mandate of naming local features like municipalities. The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture and its Ministry hope that this statement will clear any confusion that may have been caused by the article in the Pretoria News.