Keeping local names a heritage victory for all

KAROO NEWS - The Democratic Alliance celebrated Heritage Day in Graaff-Reinet at Angel Park and the failed proposed name changes were at the top of the agenda.

Councilor Ricardo Smith, the chairman of the party in the Beyers Naudé municipal area, told the audience that names form part of our heritage. "If the villages names are changed, it also affects our heritage. Today we celebrate our victory against the proposed name changes of Graaff-Reinet, Nieu-Bethesda, Adendorp and Aberdeen."

He said the communities stood together against the name changes like never before and everyone who made a contribution should feel proud of themselves.

Smith said the DA was the only political party that stood up against the name changes. He said the party proposed that the name changes be debated in Council and that the councillors take a joint decision to oppose the changes, but that the ANC and their coalition partners opposed the proposal.

"The power to change things lies in the hands of the residents and our victory against the name changes is a good example of that," said Smith.

National Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy Samantha Graham-Maré, DA Eastern Cape Provincial Chairperson Yusuf Cassim MPL, DA Shadow MEC for Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture Heinrich Muller and local DA Councilor Joy Williams also attended the Heritage Day event.

Heinrich Muller, DA Shadow MEC for Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture