Grahamstown's new naming committee is slowly taking shape, with a list of seven nominations for people to serve on the panel having gone through the Social Services Committee, and to be considered at the mayoral committee meeting scheduled for today.
Grahamstown's new naming committee is slowly taking shape, with a list of seven nominations for people to serve on the panel having gone through the Social Services Committee, and to be considered at the mayoral committee meeting scheduled for today.
After Makana Municipality recently adopted a policy for naming and renaming streets, public places, natural areas and municipal-owned buildings and facilities, an advertisement was placed in Grocott’s Mail, calling for nominations for the panel.
According to a report to the recent Social Services portfolio committee, seven were received. Some are worth mentioning. Ben Dlukulu, known for his involvement in sport and cultural activities, is the co-founder of the Sivile Jazz Band and has been a councillor in Makana Municipality.
Anthropology lecturer at Rhodes, Dr Cecil Manona, was a member of the National Naming Committee. Mazwi Makana is the former principal of Makana Primary School and is now employed at the Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture. The report said his nomination might constitute a conflict of interest, however, as the department "might be involved in some of the processes".
While Councillor Nomhle Gaga pointed out the report's recommendation that all the nominees except Makana be recommended to the Executive Mayoral Committee, Councillor Zamuxolo Peter appealed this, saying Makana was “very mature” and would know what constituted a conflict of interest.
In response to a question from Councillor Michael Whisson as to whether councillors would also serve on the panel, and whether the panel was limited to the seven individuals nominated, Community and Social Services Director Mandisi Planga said it had been intended for the panel to be independent of the council. According to the council's naming policy, the advisory panel should consist of no fewer than three, and not more than seven members.
