DELAYS surfaced in the proposed name change for Port Elizabeth and the Port Elizabeth International Airport following administrative issues.
The PE Express reported in November last year that the Eastern Cape Provincial Geographical Names Committee (ECPGNC) hoped to finalise the process by June this year.
This comes after a decision had been announced by the ECPGNC and the Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture (DSRAC) to change the names.
According to Zukile Jodwana, deputy- chairperson of the ECPGNC, the DSRAC are experiencing administrative issues, which resulted in the delay.
“We have already done everything on our side and sent in the proposed names for recommendation. The public is also said to (be given an opportunity to) lodge complaints for the proposed name change,” Jodwana said.
The first public meeting in Motherwell, in November last year, resulted in heated arguments over possible names.
Jodwana said that he is hoping that by the end of August, the public comments will be completed. However, according to the DSRAC’s spokesperson, Andile Nduna, the department has had an overwhelming response to the public hearings.
“We have also received the recommendations from the ECPGNC on the public hearings.
“What we are now dealing with is the publication of the dates for the call on the public to announce the objections to the names that were suggested,” Nduna said.
The proposed name changes for Port Elizabeth include Gqebera, I-Bhayi and Nelson Mandela City.
The proposed names for Port Elizabeth International Airport are Nelson Mandela Bay Airport, Nelson Mandela Airport, Raymond Mhlaba Airport, Sipho Hashe International Airport, David Stuurman International Airport and The Khoi-San International Airport.
