Street name changes

It is that time again in the Tshwane Metro Council! Name changes!

This time it is name changes to streets. I suppose that whenever one group has majority rule over another, it would like to bring about changes. Especially in a situation like we have had in South Africa with apartheid rule until 1994 and then the take over by the ANC in government. As we know, they have brought about many changes in the country. Many towns have had their names changed, such as Pietersburg to Polokwane.

Then there is the current issue about the Pretoria-Tshwane name change controversy.

Just last Thursday, 27 September 2007, the Tshwane Metro Council met and probably the biggest issue of the day was that of changing the names to several streets in the city. At this meeting, the Council accepted recommendations to change the names of the following streets: Church, Zambezi, Pretorius, Schoeman, Van der Walt, Andries, DF Malan, Prinsloo, General Louis Botha, Skinner, Jacob Mare, Walker/Charles, Queen Wilhemina, Mears/Beatrix/Voortrekkers, Hendrik Verwoerd, Hans Strijdom, Mitchell, Esselen, Vermeulen, Schubart, Potgieter, Paul Kruger, Proes, Michael Brink and Duncan.

The ACDP does not have a problem with street name changes per se. What we have a problem with is that some street names recommended for change, belonged to people that really did not have anything to do with the previous apartheid system in this country! Such as "Paul Kruger [who] had absolutely nothing to do with apartheid policies. [He] did not even know the meaning of that word those days," said ACDP councillor AnneMarie Sparg in a speech to the Council.

Cllr. Sparg further said, "There are several ways of dealing with any issue. One way could be confrontational and not budging an inch. This mostly results in damaged relationships. And another way is to compromise and work together in an atmosphere of reconciliation and love. This mostly results in a win win situation with a stronger unity to move forward for the better of any relationship and situation. The struggle is over and we all live in freedom, African and Afrikaner."

In a speech to the Council, ACDP Councillor Richard Dinkelmann said, "The ACDP stands for reconcilliation and nation building. Our national symbols, such as our flag and the national anthem are symbols of this reconcilliation, because they recognise the old as well as the new. 'Nkosi Sikelele' is sung alongside 'Uit die blou van onse hemel'. This symbolises respect and taking hands in a mutual endeavour to build this nation together. This attempt by the ANC to change the names of the streets in our inner city has in our opinion the potential to divide the people in the city and stir up unnecessary emotions. Having said that, we do agree that names such as Hendrik Verwoerd and Hans Strydom should be considered for change - and maybe some others that are not on the list, that could be offensive. At the same time, we cannot see why Church Street, Zambezi Drive, van der Walt Street, etc. have to be considered for new names."

Cllr. Dinkelmann also said, that the ACDP believes "that this is an attempt by the ANC to gain favour from the electorate and to try to take their attention away from the real issues," like poor service delivery, shocking customer service and continuing growth in arrear debts.

Executive mayor Dr Gwen Ramokgopa, of the ANC, said that the ANC-led council cannot do as it pleases with regard to the name changes and must consult with the community. ANC councillor Joe Mkhize said that the council will let the public participate in this regard. He further stated, that instead of adopting a recommendation of getting at least 51 percent of registered voters living in a street to agree in writing to a street name change, the ANC will involve all residents in the Tshwane metro area. He then contradicted everything he and the executive mayor had said by stating, "We are saying, come with us, let's change the names. If you do not want to, we will do it on our own."

Mkhize stated exactly what South Africans have experienced since the ANC came into power. Consult with the community, then go ahead with the plan anyway, whether the community agrees or not. We have seen that with its laws on abortion, pornography and the law on same-sex marriage. This is now going to happen in our beautiful city too, it seems! Democracy is good to the ANC only as long as it benefits from it, otherwise it is autocracy!

Are we going to lose some of the names that the ACDP believes should not be changed? We will have to wait and see.

I believe that the list of names should be shortened to only the names of streets that belonged to apartheid architects and perpetrators. Names that really have historical significance should be left intact, or does the ANC think that only their history has any significance?

The aim of this council should be that of reconciliation, not division. Changing street names without thinking very hard about the consequences of those changes will certainly not bring reconciliation!

Instead of changing street names, why not get down to the real business of any city council, provide services to the people it serves! Or, has the ANC forgotten that they are here to serve and not rule? That is the meaning of democracy!

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Zille arrest is cowardly

ACDP President, Kenneth Meshoe, said that it is cowardly of the police to arrest innocent people instead of criminals. He said this after hearing of the arrest of the DA leader, Helen Zille.

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Tshwane Metro Council ventures further towards racism

I learned today that the Tshwane Metro Council has decided to refuse to do small business transactions for goods less than R30 000, with white businesses.

They can call it BEE, affirmative action (AA), or even racism. It all amounts to the same thing. It is one thing to let all people tender for business and then to choose a black supplier from among equal tenders, but to simply exclude white businesses based on the colour of their skin is summed up in one word: racism.

Fourteen years ago, if any business or government entity excluded black businesses in this fashion, the whole world would have cried: "RACISM!" But, I guess, in this new politically correct world we live in, black exclusivity is about black pride, not racism! It is about empowerment, not racism!

If this government, especially the Tshwane Metro Council wants to establish a city of mutual respect, it will have to start right at the top.

This reverse racism shows absolutely no respect to those that are being disadvantaged by these new rules, no matter what form it takes.

But, then a charge of hypocrisy will be completely wasted on those who are perpetrating this new evil! In their minds, if blacks discriminate against whites it is called "fair discrimination" while if whites discriminate against blacks, it is simply called racism!

It is such a pity our constitution is so vague on the issue of discrimination. Section 9, in Chapter 2 - Bill of Rights, speaks several times of "unfair discrimination." It also speaks of "fair discrimination." However, these two phrases are never quantified, or clearly defined. "National legislation must be enacted to prevent or prohibit unfair discrimination." The problem here is that the constitution has no way of determining what fair or unfair discrimination is.

Therefore, when the Tshwane Metro Council determines that whites may no longer participate in small business transactions with the Metro, it clearly seems that the constitution has no answer to that. It is also clear that the ruling party will not enact new laws to prohibit such practices and so define clearly what "unfair discrimination" is in a logically consistent manner.

The voters of this country must start speaking through their votes against this racism, and vote for a party--the ACDP--that will truly represent the people of this country.

As the capital city of South Africa, bad policies in Pretoria can truly have a negative effect for the whole of the country on so many fronts.

I would like to call on the Tshwane Metro Council to rescind this immoral decision. Rather let true business competition grow in the capital than entrenching more racism!

Update (6-Sept-2007):
Read the response from ACDP Cllr. AnneMarie Sparg of the Tshwane Metro in her media release to the news of this newfound racism in the Metro!

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Floor-Crossing: No Ethics Involved

As the current Secretary General for the ACDP in the Tshwane region, floor-crossing is of great concern to me. In fact, it should be at the heart of every ethical politician or wanna-be politician.

I know, many think that the very phrase "ethical politician" is an oxymoron! However, that is not the actual fact among all politicians. The reason why so many think that it is an oxymoron, is simply because the news media hardly ever reports on the good many politicians are doing. Look at the issues facing the Minister of Health, Dr. Manto Tshabalala-Msimang and former Deputy-President, Jacob Zuma.

Yet, it is possible to have ethical politicians driven by strong moral convictions. The ACDP is involved on this front, making every effort to ensure that its members and POBs act with strong moral convictions. However, every year at this time, some decide to cross the floor to other parties.

Floor-crossing is one of the most unethical political devices that our current government has come up with. Aside from the legalisation of abortion, pornography, homosexual marriage and a host of other evil and immoral laws, this law on floor-crossing has stolen the trust of people all over South Africa, in the political process.

Floor-crossing literally has pulled the carpet from under our political process. The fact is, if floor-crossing as we currently have it continues, it definitely makes a mockery of our elections. Why would people vote for a person of a particular party just to see that person walk over with the people's vote to another party? Why bother voting if you think that some unethical politician will steal your votes and hand them over to another party?

The ACDP has decided that in order to be ethical on all fronts, we will not even allow a person from another party to cross the floor to us! The fact is, if we do not believe that this law is acceptable, we should not participate in it at any level. If a person is willing to leave another party with the seat that was voted for by that person's constituency, then we as the ACDP would not be willing to accept that person and his seat simply because he is proving by his actions to be unethical. The very type of person that we do not want to represent us.

Obviously, there are many reasons why people would want to walk over from one party to another. The point is, a person (POB) who wants to cross the floor should do it right. My own suggestion to anyone who desires to leave the ACDP--I don't deny that there are such people--should do the ethical thing at this point. That would be to resign his position as POB, resign from the party, and then walk over to the other party empty handed.

Why do I think so? A seat held by a POB does not belong to the person, but to the party, and therefore the POB has no right to take with him that which does not belong to him. This will be stealing! As Christians, this does not just go against our own consciences, but it violates the very law of God.

Further, when a Christian, walking away from the ACDP to another party, especially a party that stands diametrically opposed to Christian ethics and the Christian Worldview, now suddenly crosses the line into what would have been termed "enemy ground" before! How can a Christian walk away from a party that stands for everything Godly, turn his back on what he claimed to have believed before and now stand with that which he wholeheartedly disagreed before? Parties that stand for ungodly principles! Has God changed His mind? I do not think so!

Obviously we cannot presume to know what floor-crossers have in their hearts, only they know, and they know that they have to answer to God.

If any ACDP POBs in the Tshwane region decide to defect to other parties, I would sincerely request them to do the Christian thing, and that would be to first resign from the council, and then defect. It would be the right thing to do.

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