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“ PRESENTATION ON PUBLIC HEARINGS ON GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES ”

This presentation provides insights into the importance of standardized geographical names for effective communication, socio-economic development, and national infrastructure. It delves into the establishment of the South African Geographical Names Council (SAGNC), its aims and objectives, policy implications, and statistics on names approved. Challenges, positive aspects, and the need for public hearings on geographical names are also discussed.

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“ PRESENTATION ON PUBLIC HEARINGS ON GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES ”

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  1. DAC “PRESENTATION ON PUBLIC HEARINGS ON GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES” PRESENTED BY: ACTING DIRECTO-GENERAL

  2. TABLE OF CONTENT • INTRODUCTION • BACKGROUND • WHAT IS SAGNC? • AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF SAGNC • STATISTICS ON NAMES APPROVED • INSTRUCTION FROM FOSAD • PROVINCIAL HEARINGS • CHALLENGES AND CONSTRAINS • POSITIVE THINGS TO BUILD UPON • POLICY IMPLICATIONS 2

  3. 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Each country has the sovereign prerogative to standardize its geographical names, i.e. to decide what the name for each feature in that country should be, and how that name should be written. This is in accordance with UN Resolution 4 of the First United Nations Conference on the Standardization of Geographical Names. 1.2 Consistent use of accurate geographical names is an essential element of effective communication worldwide and supports socio-economic development, conservation and national infrastructure. Geographical names identify and reflect culture, heritage and landscape. 3

  4. INTRODUCTION CONT… 1.3 Correct use of accurate geographical names can provide benefits to local, national and international communities in respect of trade and commerce, population census and national statistics, property rights and cadastre, urban and regional planning, environmental management, sustainable development and conservation, disaster relief, security strategy and peacekeeping operations, search and rescue operations, map and atlas production, automatic navigation, tourism and communications. 4

  5. 2. BACKGROUND 2.1 South Africa established a geographical names authority in 1939, called the National Place Names Committee. It advised the then Minister of National Education and, subsequently, the Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology on proposed new names and applications for changes of names. 2.2 However, the NPNC had too narrow a mandate and did not represent certain sections of our society. 5

  6. BACKGROUND CONT… 2.3 In 1996, a Working Forum on Geographical Names was established to advise the then Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology on the reconstitution of the NPNC in the light of the recommendations of the White Paper on Arts, Culture and Heritage, international standards and cultural concerns. 2.4 It also had to attend to legislation. In accordance with the recommendations of the Working Forum, the South African Geographical Names Council (SAGNC) was established by Act No. 118 of 1998 (the South African Geographical Names Council Act). 6

  7. 3.WHAT IS SAGNC? 3.1 The SAGNC is an advisory body that advises the Minister of Arts and Culture on the standardization and transformation of geographical names in South Africa. It establishes the policies and principles for the naming of geographical features in South Africa. 3.2 It standardizes the geographical names under its jurisdiction. To do this, it determines the name to be applied to each geographical feature and the written form of the name. It recommends standardized names to the Minister for approval. It records approved geographical names and makes them known through publications and on the Internet. 7

  8. 4. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF SAGNC 4.1 To standardize geographical names (one name one feature, correction of spelling and name changes) 4.2 To transform the South African heritage landscape to reflect the cultural and demographic composition of a democratic South Africa. 4.3 To implement the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which recommended symbolic reparations to those who suffered and lost their lives for the achievement of a free and democratic South Africa and acknowledgement of the bravery and patriotism of all South Africans by naming geographical features in their honour. 8

  9. 5. STATISTICS ON NAMES APPROVED 9

  10. 6. INSTRUCTION FROM FOSAD 6.1 The head of the Forum of South African Directors General (the Cabinet Secretary) reported to the Department of Arts and Culture on the outcome of a meeting with the President and the Deputy President held on 18 April 2007. At this meeting the Department of Arts and Culture was tasked with implementing special social cohesion campaigns, which include familiarization with national symbols and country- wide public hearings on geographical names. 6.2 It was recommended that the South African Geographical Names Council should undertake country-wide public hearings on place names and report back to Cabinet. 10

  11. 6. INSTRUCTION FROM FOSADCONT… 6.3 The decision was based on the fact that the SAGNC had been in place and operational for more than six years and yet transformation of geographical names was slow. In cases where changes had been made there had been objections and court challenges, which created an impression of a non-cohesive society. 6.4 Government had a strong desire to open a social dialogue on issues of geographical names. 11

  12. 7. PROVINCIAL HEARINGS 7.1 The format for provincial hearings was to be a two-day hearing in each province (some provinces opted for a one-day hearing) where the national and provincial Arts and Culture leadership, together with the South African Geographical Names Council and the Provincial Geographical Names Committees, clearly explained the procedures that need to be followed in standardization, including the government mandate to bring about transformation in the cultural and heritage sector. 7.2 The public were informed through the media of the public hearings in their respective provinces. All municipalities, political parties, labour organisations, traditional leaders and affected and interested stakeholders were invited to make written and/or oral presentations and make recommendations during each provincial hearing. 12

  13. 7. PROVINCIAL HEARINGSCONT…. MARKETING AND PUBLICITY 7.3 The project was launched on 30 May 2008 in Cape Town by the Department of Arts and Culture and the South African Geographical Names Council. 7.4 The launch was attended by members of the Portfolio Committee on Arts and Culture and members of the print and electronic media. 7.5 Information on Provincial Hearings in a form of radio advertisements of 30 seconds duration were placed on all local and community radio stations in the region of relevant provinces. Quarter Page colour-print advertisements were also placed on national and local newspapers. 13

  14. PROVINCIAL HEARINGS CONT. 14

  15. 8. CHALLENGES AND CONSTRAINTS IDENTIFIED DURING THE HEARINGS 8.1 Human and financial resource (e.g. contract staff and not enough budget) 8.2 Intergovernmental relations and relations with other organizations and institutions of higher learning (e.g. provincial and government representatives appointment and municipalities not cooperating with PGNCs or SAGNCs) 8.3 Political buy-in and support (e.g. where there is political buy in and support geographical names changes achieved social cohesion and nation building) 15

  16. 9. POSITIVE THINGS IDENTIFIED TO BUILD UPON 9.1 All provinces have established provincial committees, with modest equitable representation. Women and minorities are still under- represented. The committee skills profiles of most committee members add value to the work of most committees, e.g. those from universities and relevant institutions and traditional leaders. 9.2 All provinces have attempted to establish lower structures in the form of subcommittees or district/local committees. 9.3 The provinces have mainly been working in cooperation with the provincial department of arts and culture or their immediate agencies as the key provincial political and strategic support partners, but that is not the case with municipalities. 16

  17. 10. POLICY IMPLICATIONS • Legislation 10.1 The responsibilities and jurisdiction of the three tiers of government with respect to geographical names need to be clearly delineated. 10.2 It is not clear whether all three levels of government are obliged to adhere to the principles and guidelines set out by the SAGNC. It should be quite clear what is mandatory. 10.3 It is not clear where the principles and guidelines of the SAGNC should be published, in order to make clear what is mandatory and what is merely recommended. 10.4 There are different views as to whether entities of national significance such as capital cities should by law be referred to Parliament (as is the case with the names of provinces) or at least treated differently to smaller places, and what say local communities have in such cases. 17

  18. POLICY IMPLICATIONS Cont.. 10.5 The sources of funding at each level of administration need to be identified. Funding should be in accordance with the respective mandates of each level of authority. 10.6 The situation regarding private properties that have offensive names should be considered. 10.7 Does there need to be regulation of the relationship between the SAGNC and the Rural Development Department (Chief Directorate of Surveys and Mapping), in order, for example, to co-ordinate policies over depicting cadastral names and offensive names on maps? 18

  19. ThankYou 19

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