KAROO NEWS - The DA submitted a second Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) application, to the Eastern Cape Department of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture (DSRAC) and the Eastern Cape Provincial Geographical Name Changes Committee (ECPGNC) on Tuesday 21 November.
The application relates to the proposed name changes of four towns in the Dr Beyers Naudé local municipality - Graaff-Reinet to Fred Hufkie or Robert Sobukwe, Adendorp to Kwa Mseki Bishop Limba, Nieu Bethesda to Kwa Noheleni and Aberdeen to Camdeboo.
DA MP and Dr Beyers Naudé Constituency Leader, Samantha Graham-Maré says their new PAIA application requests that all copies of applications or documents relating to the proposed name changes be open to those affected by the proposed name changes.
Graham-Maré also said that the DA remain of the opinion that the right to privacy of the applicants in this matter is trumped by the need for transparency but decided to exclude the request for the name/s of the applicant/s to avoid the debate around revealing personal information protected by the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).
According to Graham-Maré the DA's first PAIA application, submitted on 13 October, was completely ignored by the ECPGNC and in the party's opinion it is a clear indication that this body has no interest in engaging in good faith but will continue to do as they please under its so-called "mandate".
“An unwillingness to supply the information we have requested in our newest application, will raise red flags around the process and the compliance of the applications to the requirements stipulated to in the Handbook on Geographical Names,” she says.
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