Sandy Hutchens Another Name

UN envoy to help with name dispute

A mediator from the United Nations is staying with Macedonia and neighboring Greece for talks on solving a name dispute that has entangled the two in their relations for almost 20 years.

Matthew Nimetz says both governments are “dealing seriously” with the problem the time has come for solutions.

Greece says its Macedonia’s use of the name “Macedonia” denotes territory claims on Greece’s own northern region which is also called Macedonia. Athens has previously blocked Macedonia’s NATO membership, citing the disputation, and is threatening to do likewise with Macedonia’s efforts to join the European Union.

Nimetz spoke after talks today with Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski. He will visit with Greek representatives later this week.

The debate came into being after Macedonia peacefully separated from Yugoslavia in 1991.

Is Macedonia Greece?

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Xingwana notice in Government Gazette

The Pretoria “by another name” drama could go on for a long time after Friday’s announcement that Arts and Culture Minister Lulu Xingwana had remove a notice for technical reasons.

Xingwana placed his notice in the January 29 Government Gazette connected to the registration of Tshwane municipal area as another name.

The notice was placed a day after Arts and Culture Minister Deputy Paul Mashatile canceled a briefing to the media in order to announce new names for a number of areas across the country.

The department declined to explain the issue but sources said the tardiness in the announcement could be because of “flaws” in the Tshwane Metro Council’s registration to the South African Geographic Names Council back in the year 2004.

A senior council official said, on condition of anonymity, the original mission statement by council was – register “City of Tshwane” as a place name.

This anonymous official, who assisted in the drafting of the application to the SAGNC, said difficulties for the council came when some councilors altered the application “and instead applied for the change of Pretoria’s name to Tshwane”.

“There was a huge outcry over the change in the application from a number of senior politicians,” he said.

He stated that the municipality decided to establish a committee managed by Professor Mzi Sirayi to investigate the issue of “another name.”
But, according to the former official, the council’s public participation process was flawed.

“Instead of the public participation process being for the registration of City of Tshwane as a geographic name, it was to change Pretoria’s name to Tshwane,” he said.

He added that the name “Tshwane” was for the municipality which covers areas like Hammanskraal, Soshanguve, Mabopane, Winterveld and a number of agricultural holdings.

The Streets of Pretoria

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It is mid-winter and there are five names on the Collingwood ballot challenging for seven councillor positions in the Oct. 25 municipal election.

Late last week, downtown businessman Michael Christie filed his nomination papers.

Christie is the son of Ed Christie, who served on council for a single term (1994-97).

Christie has s father’s work, not only in the business, but also with the Downtown Collingwood BIA.

He has been part of the joint BIA-municipal committees dealing with downtown parking, and the downtown revitalization.

“This is a great opportunity, and something I’ve wanted to do for awhile,” said Christie, noting he has the support of his family. “I’ve been spending a lot of time doing the town’s business, and I’d like to be where the final decisions get made.”

He joins current councillors Ian Chadwick and Dave Labelle, and political new-covers Kevin Lloyd on the ballot. Deputymayor Sandra Cooper and Councillor Kathy Jeffery have filed for mayor, while Councillor Norman Sandberg has filed for the deputy-mayor position.

BEAVER RIVER BRIDGE OVERNIGHT CLOSURES

Four-hour, overnight closures of the Beaver River Bridge, on Highway 26 in Thornbury, are scheduled to take place on two or three nights between Feb. 11 and 16.

The work will start no earlier than midnight and the bridge must be reopened by 4 a.m.

Remedial work requires lifting the bridge deck to allow workers to complete repairs to the support girders and bearing pads. It’s hoped the work can be completed in two sessions but a third has been scheduled in case it’s needed.

The work is part of a major rehabilitation project needed to extend the life of the bridge. The first phase of the project will be completed in February and a second phase will be done during the spring and summer. The second phase will involve work atop the bridge deck and will require reducing traffic to one lane during work hours. Access from Highway 26 (Bridge St.) to Hester St. and the Hester St. parking lot will be maintained.

Collingwood