AIRPORTS Company South Africa has launched a campaign calling for public comments and proposals by today for renaming Cape Town International, East London, Port Elizabeth International and Kimberley airports.
As part of the government’s Transformation of Heritage Landscape programme, the renaming will be implemented in terms of the South African Geographical Names Council Act of 1998 (Act No. 118 of 1998).
The Minister of Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa, is responsible for the approval of geographical names after receiving recommendations from the South African Geographical Names Council (SAGNC).
Proposals and comments should be sent to Airports Company South Africa via email to Corporate.Affairs@airports.co.za or hand-delivered to their office at the nearest airport by close of business today.
An application will be made to the relevant Geographical Names Provincial Committee to verify that the applications comply with the guidelines in the national Handbook on Geographical Names.
The provincial committees will then forward the applications to the SAGNC to take a decision and make a recommendation for the minister’s approval.
Once the names have been approved, they will then be published in the Government Gazette. A period of 30 days is required for any objections.
Should any objections be received, the minister will assess them before a final decision is published in the Government Gazette.
The Department of Transport and Airports Company South Africa will then implement the official names as soon as possible.
