The Herald E-Edition

ANC plans to rename its Amathole region after Govan Mbeki

Vuyolwethu Sangotsha

The ANC plans to rename its Amathole region after Govan Mbeki — and is not ruling out the possibility that the embattled district municipality’s name may ultimately also be changed to honour the late struggle icon.

Opposition political parties have slammed the suggestion, saying it would have far-reaching financial implications at a time of great economic strain.

The proposal to rename the ANC region was made by delegates at the party’s regional general council at the weekend.

Yesterday, ANC regional secretary Nombuyekezo Nkwenkwezi-Ncetezo did not rule out the possibility that the Amathole District Municipality could also ultimately also be renamed after Mbeki should the party get the green light.

Mbeki, the father of former president Thabo Mbeki, died in 2001 at the age of 91.

“There are so many reasons for the consideration of Oom Gov ... key to all is that a leader of his stature being one the outstanding leaders of the ANC, a Rivonia triallist, who contributed immensely towards the liberation struggle, which gave birth to the freedom we enjoy today,” Nkwenkwezi-Ncetezo said.

“A leader who ... was born and raised here in Amathole region, in Ngqamakhwe, and later moved to stay in Dutywa — even his schooling was within our region, in the University of Fort Hare.

“It is on [that] basis that of all the struggle icons, we take pride from the fact that he was born here in our region and decided to honour his contribution to our country ...”

Nkwenkwezi-Ncetezo said at this stage the proposal was focused purely on renaming the ANC region, and not the municipality.

“However, depending on the consultations which we will be engaged in, a decision will be taken at a later stage on whether we can proceed to begin with processes towards renaming the district municipality.”

Attempts to reach the Mbeki family for comment by the print deadline yesterday were not successful.

The DA’s Amathole caucus leader, Jean Lombard, said there was far more serious and urgent business to concentrate on than a name change, especially for the Amathole District Municipality.

“These exercises also come at great cost and I personally deem it an unnecessary exercise right now,” Lombard said.

She said the ANC should rather concentrate on stabilising the district municipality’s administration and service delivery issues and freeing it from being under voluntary intervention under Section 139 5(a) of the constitution.

UDM chief whip Similo Sitole said Mbeki deserved to be honoured for his role in the liberation struggle, but was critical of the proposed name change.

“It’s obviously a moneymaking scheme,” Sitole said.

“We are on a financial recovery plan: we are retrenching people because we don’t have money, downsizing, and now this, and it’s not even worth it.”

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2023-06-07T07:00:00.0000000Z

2023-06-07T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://herald.pressreader.com/article/281582360025155

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