“We are going to stand firm as Makhado Council and fight and defend our people!”

These were the “war” cries of Makhado Municipal Mayor David Mutavhatsindi when he addressed fellow councillors and members of the media during a special Council meeting held last Thursday. Only two topics were on the agenda: The order of the Pretoria High Court regarding the town's name of Louis Trichardt and the changing of several of the town’s street names.

It has been more than two weeks since the court ruled that the former Minister of Arts and Culture Mr Paul Mashatile’s decision to have the name of Louis Trichardt changed to Makhado, be set aside.

“Madam Speaker, we are not happy in terms of what happened on the 30th of October. The setting aside of the name Makhado … we’re not happy … because people had spoken in terms of that name, and records are there… they are there even as I speak today,” said Mutavhatsindi.

In addition, the mayor announced that a budget was made available to the council because they “want the street names of this town to be changed. That resolution is there. The mayor is empowered in terms of that resolution … and that process is going to start as soon as I finished the pronouncement [sic],” said Mutavhatsindi.

The mayor further affirmed his availability for those people “who enjoy going for protest marches and marching on the streets demanding services.”

“I want to make it very clear here, that those who will organize such marches, some of us who are passionate about the history and what happened … don’t be surprised … because at the starting point of those marches we will be there ourselves. I will only come and climb the podium only to receive the memorandum … but where the march will start, I’ll be there in support of our history.”

Preceding his declaration, the mayor also made several remarks many afterwards construed as being of a racial nature towards not only residents who oppose the name change, but also towards the white residents of Louis Trichardt.

“There is a consistent effort … to undermine the democracy we have earned through the blood of other people and our efforts to transform Makhado Municipality and this town is being undermined,” said Mutavhatsindi. He referred to an incident earlier this year where he personally removed a sign board that “was erected by a white male that referred to certain people as baboons.” Other examples he highlighted included people who objected to the development of the bird park in the green belt area, as well as the current controversy surrounding some local businesses that allegedly have segregated toilets.

“…that is a very clear indication that we still have people in this town, in our municipality, who are not ready to accept change, who are all out to make sure that they stand against transformation,” said Mutavhatsindi.  “They will always remind us of the birds which come as far as Europe to say you go and touch that piece of land those birds will be disturbed. Like this people it is like when … Louis Trichardt arrived here in 1836 … there were no birds and birds were there, it is just that those birds maybe were African birds … if these birds which has flown from Europe can’t withstand the pressure of this development, we are very sure that they still have wings; they will rather fly back to Europe and we develop our town [sic].”

Refering to the history of the region, Mutavhatsindi professed to fight just as hard as King Makhado, the Lion of the North, for his people. “Makhado fought against the Voortrekker, and not even once did they defeat him – Not even once! … in 1867 when commander general Paul Kruger came with the republican army to attack him, he couldn’t make it. Makhado, the warrior, defeated him. They went to Oude Dorp [Schoemansdal] and Makhado the King, in defence of his people and the land, he reduced that place to ashes.” In his closing remarks, Mayor Mutavhatsindi said: “We’re going to fight this battle, and we’re going to be serious, we can’t allow to be undermined.”

After the executive meeting had accepted the resolution, the mayor indicated to members of the press that Council would also be appointing an independent attorney to review the High Court’s decision. From then onwards they will decide whether it will be necessary to appeal the decision or to restart the renaming process. The mayor further confirmed, by means of municipal spokesperson Mr Louis Bobodi, that Council has only allocated money (R200 000 over three years) for the street name changes and not yet for new attorneys.

Readers who wish to listen to the mayor’s speech can find it elsewhere on our website.