Place names

Building an inclusive nation through name changes

Since the advent of democracy in 1994, few things have been as divisive as the process of changing apartheid and colonial names. This does not need to be the case. Instead, handled properly the re-examination of place names could be used as a vehicle for nation building.

Just as the cities, towns, streets, rivers and mountains of this country belong to all its people, we should ensure that all South Africans can embrace the names we use to identify these features.

Since the arrival of white settlers in the land now known as South Africa, place names have been used as a means of dispossession, both physically and psychologically. Colonial authorities named the rivers, mountains and forests of South Africa as a means of asserting dominion of the land and its occupants. To them the African continent was an empty wallchart, waiting for European powers to label, occupy and exploit.

As a consequence, democratic South Africa inherited a slew of place names that reflected white history and European culture. Even as a government of all the people of South Africa took office, and even as an inclusive Constitution was adopted, the street signs of South Africa sent a very different message.

The message was that while South Africa may belong to all who live in it, most of its people did not deserve to have their culture, history, language or heritage reflected in their everyday surroundings. Subliminally, these old street signs said to the country's majority that this is not your street, this is not your town, this is not your park.

The desire to change the names of these places is therefore understandable. More than that, it is necessary to ensure that the languages, culture, history, aspirations and heritage of all South Africans is reflected in the names that are given to the world they inhabit.

If South Africa is to shake off the colonial yoke, it will need, among other things, to change many of its of place names. This process has begun across the country, initiated in the main by local and provincial governments, as well as national departments.

Yet, as this process has unfolded, it has been met with much resistance, and has exacerbated old divisions within communities. Some sections of society have labelled these name changes ahistorical, culturally insensitive, wasteful, politically partisan and unnecessary. It has resulted in acrimonious exchanges and court challenges.

This does not need to be the case. By approaching name changes differently, this process can serve to unite rather than divide, and build a sense of common purpose and common destiny. There are national guidelines for changing names of place and geographical features, and an authority that oversees the process.

The law provides that any citizen, property owner or developer, organised body, government department, local authority, or the South African Post Office is eligible to apply to have a place name changed or reconfirmed. Applicants are required to offer motivation for the change they seek and should provide supportive information, such as the origin and meaning of the proposed name; historical evidence justifying its adoption such as oral traditions, archival documents or other relevant facts that may be required.

Applications are processed by the local authority, which may conduct public hearings on any proposed name changes. Depending on which level of government has jurisdiction, the application finds itself to the relevant authority. If a national name the proposal finds its way to the South African Geographical Names Council, which makes a recommendation to the Minister of Arts and Culture. Throughout these processes, provision is made for public consultation.

The law is clear on the requirements for changing place names. There is a set of principles for geographical names in South Africa, including that each individual feature should have one official name. Names of living persons should be generally avoided. However, if the review of place names is going to play a constructive role in society, it may be necessary to develop an approach that extends beyond the formal and legal elements.

Such an approach can be illustrated by means of the example of a town that is officially known by a name given to it during colonial times, or the apartheid era. To continue to use this particular name would be to ignore the diversity of residents of this town, and exclude the language, culture and history of the majority of its people.

Recognising this problem, the town should mobilise its residents to submit all the names by which this place is known or has been known, even in the distant past. The town should then commission research into each of these names, to uncover their roots, historical significance, cultural importance, and contemporary meaning. They should speak to the old people who used to know this place by no other name. They should speak to the young people who have developed new names for the place.

They could do research on the history of those individuals who are closely associated with the place, extracting historical material about their lives and times. In this process, not only will the town and its residents be in a position to make a more informed decision about what the town should be known as, it will have uncovered important material about the history of the town, its most significant features, outstanding individuals who have lived there, and its residents.

This material should be collated and published in book and other forms, a popular history of the place that incorporates the experiences of all sections of the community. It can also be used as a platform to promote the town to potential investors and visitors.

The value of this is that in searching for a name, the town will have been able to construct a common history shared by all residents, and hence a common heritage. It will also contribute to the forging of a common destiny.

Empowered with this information, and a sense of a common history, the town's residents are then better able to settle on a single name for the place that reflects this common past and common aspirations.

Such an approach reduces the scope for conflict, builds understanding between different sections of the community, and encourages a sense of common ownership. It also mitigates against names that may be arbitrary, partisan, offensive or that bears little relation to the town's history and situation.

** Kgalema Motlanthe is the Deputy President of the ANC.

Violence against women

Let us say 'enough is enough'

The 16 Days of Activism: No Violence Against Women is an international campaign that takes place annually from 25 November to 10 December.

Although the global campaign focuses on violence against women only, South Africa added children to its campaign because of the high incidence of child abuse in the country. Around the country, South Africans are being called on to combat violence against women and children.

Since 1999, government in partnership with civil society organisations and the business sector have run a campaign to generate an increased awareness of the negative impact of violence on women and children as well as society as a whole.

The main objectives of this campaign are to:

• Create awareness about negative impact of gender-based violence and child-directed abuse;
• Educate every member of society about the scourge of violence against women and children;
• Challenge the perpetrators of these crimes to change their behaviour;
• Inform women, children and men of information and services available to them on gender-based violence;
• Encourage society to speak out and not to remain silent about gender-based violence; and
• Inform communities about alcohol and substance abuse and the impact gender-based violence has on the infection rate of HIV and AIDS.
• Stress the importance of partnerships between government and civil society in eradicating women and child abuse.
• Involve men and boys as crucial role-players in the eradication of violence against women and children.
• Provide victims and survivors of violence with information about legislative services and other mechanisms put in place by the government to ameliorate the impact of violence on their lives.
• Raise funds for non-governmental and community-based organisations working with victims and survivors of violence.

As this Campaign enters its ninth (9) year, we must celebrate the achievements that it has made to encourage victims of gender-based violence to speak out. Our hard-won freedom obliges all of us, as government, civil society, labour and business to create an environment that empowers and affirms women's and children's rights. It is a common factor that not to be abused is a basic human right.

During 2004, it was announced that the campaign should be extended to 365 Days of Action against gender-based violence. As a result, the 16 Days Campaign has spread its activities over a period of 365 days, in order to enhance the effectiveness of the campaign.

We are compelled to act against abuse in our homes, at work, in schools, and in our communities simply because every woman, every girl-child and boy-child has a right to live free from violence, threats of violence and all forms of abuse. All that women and children need and are entitled to is love, care, nurture and compassion.

We urge and encourage all of us to actively support this Campaign through these measures:

• wearing the white ribbon during the 16-day period to symbolise that we will never commit or condone violence against women and children,
• volunteer in support of NGOs and community groups that support abused women and children,
• volunteer your time to help plant a garden at a shelter or join an organisation as a counsellor,
• encourage silent women victims to challenge abuse and ensure that they get help, and
• join your local policing forum (CPF) to help bring effective crime prevention.

Working together, our goal is to build a society that is free for women and children to live in. In this beautiful country, there must never be a province, city, township or village where women and children live in fear and helplessness because there are no support for them.

As we call on all sectors of our society to help those affected by violence or abuse, it is important to mention that the victims themselves can be their own liberators. The success of the Campaign against women and child abuse relies on the victims themselves and their families to expose the perpetrators.

We call upon women and children to be brave and bold and stand up for their rights. It is sad that in some instances we keep quiet because we are afraid we will lose the financial support of our abusive husbands and partners. Let there be no mistake, abuse is abuse and it can never be right and neither can it be justified!

As a society, we must work hard to promote a positive moral fibre that values the elderly, the disabled and those who are vulnerable. It is our role and responsibility to create safe and peaceful environments in our communities. Let us say in one voice, enough is enough!

All of us have to be whistle-blowers against those who abuse our children and thereby rob us of our future. Let us join hands and work together in promoting and protecting the rights of women and children.

The key commemorative dates for the Campaign are:

• 25 November: International Day for No Violence against Women
• 1 December: International HIV and AIDS Day
• 3 December: International Day for People Living with Disabilities and
• 10 December: International Human Rights Day.

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