Residents concerned about Alberton street name changes
Residents have the opportunity to comment and post their objections to the name changes by sending an email to Hendrick Boya at hendrick.boya@ekurhuleni.gov.za before April 3.
The concerned residents from Wards 37, 38, 94 and 106, met in Alberton Civic Centre on March 14 to discuss proposed name changes of several streets within the Alberton area. The residents met with their local ward councillors to raise their concerns and the implications of the proposed name changes.
The name change policy, which follows on the Geographical Naming and Renaming Policy which was passed in 2017, was adopted as a proposal by the council on February 21.
The names to be submitted were required to be of people who have passed away and had made a considerable contribution to South Africa and Ekurhuleni. The names chosen could also be names that have been used in South Africa.
The proposed name changes that affect Alberton are as follows: Voortrekker Road Exit has received two proposed names which are Paul Sehlogo and Vusi Diale. The exit of the R554 on Kliprivier is proposed to be changed to Paul Sehlobo. The N12 exit in Alberton is proposed to be renamed after Chris Hani. Swartkoppies Road has been proposed to change to Ellen Lambert and Michelle Avenue renamed Grace Flathela. At this stage, the names are still proposals and can still be commented on before the names are implemented.
Residents at the meeting raised several concerns about the name changes for the Alberton area. They were highly concerned with the cost the changes would have not only for the municipality but for residents and businesses. The money to be spent on the changes could be better spent on pressing needs in Alberton.
The other complaint was that the proposed names were not residents of Alberton and that their names were not pronounceable for the residents who live in the area. An example used by the residents was calling for an ambulance and not being able to pronounce the names. They have also asked what significance the proposed names held for the residents as the people attending the meeting could not even recognise them. The residents said they felt facilities and landmarks should rather be renamed rather than streets as this could escalate costs.
The residents have the opportunity to comment and to raise their objections to name changes by sending an email to Hendrick Boya at hendrick.boya@ekurhuleni.gov.za The comments and objection would be brought before the oversight committee. All comments and objections need to made by April 3.
A group of residents who attended the meeting, who describe themselves as Concerned Residents of Alberton, plan to make a joint submission of letters to the committee highlighting the concerns raised at the meeting on March 14. They are asking other Alberton residents to add their voice to theirs. Should you want to do so, send an email to Gary van den Heuvel at gary@bbra.co.za
For free daily local news in the south, visit our sister newspapers Alberton Record, Comaro Chronicle, Southern Courier and Get it Joburg South Magazine.
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