[IO] Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa has vowed to lobby the ANC to open a discussion on finding an appropriate name for South Africa.Mthethwa, who is also an ANC NEC, member was responding to calls made by a resident in Molweni to debate the issue of the country’s name during the party’s national policy conference at the end of the month.
Mthethwa told party supporters during a cadre’s forum on Sunday that South Africa was not the name of the country, but just "a geographical description of where we are".
Resident Bhekisisa Khanyeza said it was unacceptable for a liberated country to continue with a colonial name.
Mthethwa, whose department is in charge of naming public areas, said the ANC had never given itself time to think about the name of the country.
"To tell the truth, the country does not have a name. It is not there," he said.
"They can change every name in South Africa, but it won't change the fact that the government has failed to provide services or curb crime."
~ Connie Mulder