Dit is bietjie klein, maar ek verbeel my ek sien 'n paar Bravolanders op die voorblad...
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?art_id=vn20081014063043301C695015
Name-change meeting mayhem A highly emotionally-charged public consultation meeting was called off on Monday night after the public address system allegedly malfunctioned.
The meeting at the Pretoria North town hall was aimed at getting inputs from local residents regarding the proposed name changes for a number of streets in Pretoria's CBD, Ga-Rankuwa and Mabopane.
The Tshwane Metro Council resolved in September 2007 that a number of streets across the Tshwane area, including Paul Kruger, Pretorius, Schoeman, Van der Walt, Zambezi, Church, Lucas Mangope and Leah Mangope would undergo name changes.
Monday night's proceedings got off on a negative note.
This was when Absalom Ditshoke, the mayoral committee member for housing and sustainable human settlement, was heckled by a predominantly Afrikaans-speaking section of the audience.
Ditshoke had tried to apologise that the public address system had not arrived, because the person who was supposed to put it up was stuck in traffic.
Ditshoke, who was addressing the audience in English, was requested by the group to address them in Afrikaans claiming they did not understand what he was saying.
A section of the black group, which was seated in the front section of the town hall, started singing ANC president Jacob Zuma's trademark song Umshini Wam in support of Ditshoke.
They urged him to speak in whatever language he wished.
The Afrikaans group countered the singing with their own rendition of Die Lied Van Jong Suid Afrika.
Both groups tried to outdo each other with their singing and, at one stage, police had to intervene when they confronted each other.
After the public address system was assembled, Ditshoke said it was malfunctioning and that the meeting had to be called off because of the problem.
The speaker of council, Khorombi Dau, said they would reschedule the meeting.
"We will find a new date for the meeting.
"We will issue notices informing residents about the next meeting," Dau said.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance says it has gathered 600 signatures against the proposed name changes.
DA councillor Ben Wannenburg said: "To change 27 street names won't change the problem of bad service the residents of Pretoria are experiencing.
"If the reason behind changing street names is to promote tourism, then it is a blatant argument that holds no ground and won't change the face worth of Pretoria."
He said one of the streets proposed to undergo a name change, Zambezi Road, was in no way politically connected.
"Zambezi rose above politics just like the mighty Zambezi River in North Africa that's been giving life and food to millions of people over the years.
"This city has needs that are more urgent than changing the street names.
"Money should rather be spent and allocated to more important projects.
"At least half the residents living in these streets should take part in the process," said Wannenburg.
