CRADOCK NEWS - The Cradock Community Forum as well as the Business Forum are campaigning against the town's name change to Nxuba through extensive petitions circulated internationally.
They are also planning a march and possible road closures, as visible actions against the new name.
This follows after the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa gazetted new names for various Eastern Cape towns and villages on 26 August.
In statements on the two forums' social media pages, they say the town is now officially known as Nxuba and that the forums are working very hard to reverse the name change of their world-renowned town, rich with history. Petitions can be signed at various sites in town.
According to the white paper on land revision and name changes:
- 10. (1) The Minister may approve or reject a geographical name recommended by the Council in terms of section 9(l)(d). 10 (2) A geographical name approved or rejected by the Minister in terms of subsection (I) must be published in the Gazette.
- (3) Any person or body dissatisfied with a geographical name approved by the Minister may, within one month from the date of publication of the geographical name in the Gazette, lodge a complaint in writing to the Minister.
What residents say
Concerned Cradock residents reacted as follows on the Cradock Community Forum Facebook:
- "Cradock is indebted at Eskom where millions are owed, how will they afford the name change."
- "Nxuba refers to "fish". There is also another Nxuba in the Amatole area of the Eastern Cape. This is a huge recipe for confusion among an already confused province."
- "The Cradock Four were residents of Cradock, and we cherish their memory in the town and at their Memorial Site. They were known internationally as 'The CRADOCK Four', and tourists travel from far and wide to Cradock, to visit the memorial site. Would the Nxuba Four have any impact on our town? Do we want them to be remembered as the 'Fish 4'?"
- "When will this group's name change to nCoba Community Forum? Sorry, I am not sure about the spelling?"
According to www.salanguages.com, Inxuba Yethemba (NOT Nxuba) is an isiXhosa name meaning "fish of hope". The word Inxuba is derived from the Fish River that runs through Cradock. The meaning of Nxuba could not be found online. Ed.
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