A road sign depicting the name of Winnie Mandela has been defaced by angry residents of the town previously known as Brandfort.
Authorities say the town’s new name will be officially unveiled at a ceremony on Sunday.
Some residents of the town previously known as Brandfort are opposed to renaming it to Winnie Mandela. They say the government must instead use the resources for service delivery in the area.
Many of the residents say they do not see the significance of the name change while they continue to suffer on a daily basis.
“People of Brandfort, I’m ashamed to hear today that Brandfort has changed to Winnie Mandela. I’m ashamed and heartbroken. The issue is we don’t have a clinic. The clinic is burnt down. It’s almost four years, but they have done nothing. There’s corruption, no jobs, and remain jobless. People wake up and sort yourself out,” says one of the resident.
“Name change … it’s not fine. We cannot change a name, but we know the ANC because they have the power and everything. They will change the name, but we are not happy. The very same ANC … we don’t have a clinic; we don’t have water or even electricity. Why name change?” says another disgruntled resident.
Mixed reactions to approval of name change of the town of Brandfort to Winnie Mandela:
EFF Provincial Secretary Bosanku Msimanga says they have been calling for the removal of apartheid names and for the name of Winnie Mandela to be acknowledged. He says many of the towns in the Free State still bear colonial names.
“We are saying equally as we unveiled Mama Winnie, we must equally couple that with service delivery. These thugs of the ANC must take resources where they should be, right where our people are in the township.”
Free State ANC Interim Committee Spokesperson Oupa Khoabane says people are free to express their views on the renaming of places.
“Our understanding of those detractors who are against the renaming of that place, it’s not surprising because even those during the 90’s they will instigate using racist slogans.”
The DA’s Marieta Visser says the government has ignored objections raised by members of the community over the name change.
“The DA does not oppose the name change, but questions the processes followed. The minister ignores the PAIA application, does not even have the courtesy to respond to the petition signed by more than 700 residents. The ANC is arrogant by ignoring all the legislation and democratic processes.”
The Freedom Front Plus has described the renaming of Brandfort as a political ploy by the ANC to hide their failure in providing services to the people.
FF Plus member Armand Cloete, says, “This is what people of Brandfort need: they need water; they need electricity; they need services; but clearly, the ANC is not committed to service delivery. This can be a monument for ANC.”
The late struggle stalwart Winnie Madikizela-Mandela was banished to the sprawling town in 1977. The house she lived in has been restored and converted to a museum in her honour.
Free State DA against renaming of Brandfort to Winnie Mandela:
