A PROPOSAL to change the name of Richards Bay to Mandlazini has landed before the City of uMhlathuze’s Executive Committee.
This after a submission was made by the Mthiyane Traditional Authority to the KZN Department of Arts and Culture for possible name changes, including changing the John Ross Highway to Inkosi Mqedi Highway.
The uMhlathuze Council was first advised of the name change proposal during a presentation in August 2012 by representatives from the Department of Arts and Culture.
Richards Bay is named after Frederick William Richards of County Wexford, Ireland.
In October 1878, he was appointed Commander for the West Coast of Africa and upon hearing of the British defeat at Isandhlwana in Zululand, landed on the East Coast.
His ship HMS Forester surveyed the nearby coast in 1879 and his map is the earliest to record the Mhlathuze Lagoon as ‘Richards Bay’.
When the then government decided to develop a new harbour on the north coast, it chose this respective bay, and the town and harbour of Richards Bay was subsequently established.
As a result, the then government, allegedly without consulting the Mthiyane or Mandlazini Tribe, confiscated the land in the mid-70s and relocated the community to Ntambanana.
According to the KZN Department of Arts and Culture, renaming Richards Bay to Mandlazini will emphasise the hardship of members of the Mandlazini Tribe, who were displaced to allow for the development of Richards Bay and to honour their suffering.
John Ross Highway
Representatives of the Provincial Geographical Names Committee have also suggested that Council give consideration to the possible name change of the John Ross Highway to Inkosi Mqedi Highway.
Approval was requested in 2006 by Inkosi M Mthiyane of the Mambuka Tribal Authority for the proposed fencing and protection of an important gravesite where Inkosi Mqedi and close family members are buried.
The gravesite is located between the John Ross Highway and the Mondi Paper Mill.
The busy highway is named after John Ross – the 14 year-old boy who together with 30 Zulu warriors walked to Delagoa Bay, spanning 600km to get medical supplies for early setters of Port Natal.
Consideration
At the uMhlahuze Exco meeting on Tuesday, Council recommended that the possible name changes be referred to the various political party caucuses and sent back to Exco for further consideration.
‘This submission has come to Council to be supported in principle to initiate the due processes in terms of legislation including public participation. This is just an introduction of the subject matter,’ said Deputy Municipal Manager: City Development, Lindani Khoza.
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I wonder when they are going to change the name South Africa and what its new name will be. Its just another way of wasting our tax money that’s all!
Wtf?? So whats the history behind Mandlazini? We had this for ages not bothering anyone-does council really have this money to waste,while roads are falling apart and/or incomplete?? Or is it just because its english.
Theres only two words for this Ridiculous concideration…. HELL NO!!!!!!!!
Oh,while at it – change South Africa to iAfrica
….Mandlazini came known here long long after RICHARDS BAY. Another land claim story,wheres proof? I think we all should put in land claims- my property in veld envlei in MINE,MY LAND and its RICHARDs BAY
I am at a loss for words. WHY do we have to change the stupid things, like names of place/streets which in turn leads to – maps / records/ etc. Can we not focus on the More important things? can that that will be spent by government to Make such a change, not be given to Mandlazini as we know it now ( informal settlements in Birdswood) For RDP housing or the improvement of the Water/ electricity / and other (lacking or Required) government supplied services? things like this should not be sent to government!! things like this should be brought forward to the Resident and Voted upon!
There are much better needs that taxpayers money can be used for instead of name changes.It’s an unnecesary cost and inconvenience!
Apartheid is over.Part of moving on is having an open mind and not dwelling on things of the past.Just because a name can be changed,doesn’t mean it has to.We acknowledge the people and tribes who endured struggle but the costly proccess of changing names and the great confusion it will cause doesn’t make sense.
If we have this mindset where English names must be changed to isiZulu,let’s stop imitating the English way of dressing too,and ditch our shirts and pants for tradition zulu attire at all times.Why pick and choose.Embrace heritage and culture completely!
We need to stop this!!!! As if our opinion matters… Who is inkosi anyway. I bet plenty of animals and people died on John Ross-that would also a road named after them
What do they want to achieve by changing the name? It’s a waste of time to contest against a name change, they will just do what they want…..
Together with namechages comes numberplate changes, bussiness name changes and then they will attact the street names.
Use the money to IMPROVE roads,state hospital,plumbing in rural areas,job creation…but no lets just focus on “the struggle”. Guys-Madiba has been through worse and he lives and forgets..instead focus on making it better. Its ridiculous,waste and just to proove a point. Theres much more important things.
Exactly Hein. And we have such beautiful names-plants,animals,trees,flowers,fish. Causes alot of work for people that actually have work to do-not sitting and thinking “ah what name will we change for a land claim now”
NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!it has been Richardsbay it stays Richardsbay.I want it to stay richardsbay so you do not have my approval!!!!!!! :/ :(
Can not believe that their is so much money to waist on things like this I do think we are paying to much rates and taxes and therefore their is to much money to spend on things like this there is a lot of poor people rather help them white or black to survive we all use to the name R/bay leave it and concentrate on things that is more important.
I can seriously NOT believe this. Improve the schools and the roads and STOP spending your mony on S.!T, I love the name Richards Bay. I agree with then others who commented, stop waisting the money.
These name changes only serve one purpose- to ruin the history of the country. Every place and person has a history, changing a name will not erase that. People need to grow up and realize the victim card does not work. All this does is create confusion. Pretty soon, the country name will be changed! This is crazy.
This govt really needs to get past their hangovers and start focusing on important issues like the number of road deaths. Fix urgent issues for goodness sake and stop with this “eye for an eye” attitude.
There are more urgent issue 2 address than name changes…. Da name Richards Bay, is our past n present and I think its da future also…. I don’t wanna live in a place wit any otha name than Richards Bay…
this country is pathetic honestly. cant believe we waist so much money on paying tax just so they can change a name. Why not put our money to good use like upgrading our roads making it more safe for people to drive on like build extra roads just for trucks. honestly all i can do is shake my head because i honestly don’t see how changing the name will better our city…
I’m in total shock, I knew it was only a matter of time before they decided to attack Richards Bay with a name change. Richards Bay and the rest of South Africa has to undergo name changes that reflect our country as a single nationality, however we are a nation of divers cultures and proud of it. Why erase a part of history. I’m just to disgusted with what our country has done. Sort out the appalling state of schools and hospitals and the lack of these facilities in Richards Bay.
Apart from en-riching people with either shares or relatives in the “Signage” or “Printing” businesses at the expense of community infrastructure – what tourist/foreigner is going to make a priority of visiting a place he has never heard of, can’t pronounce and can’t spell. At the same time we want to push a meander. Good luck.
OHHHH EH EH!!!! We love the name RICHARDS BAY and changing the name after all these years. It’s NO USE! How would people find us??? Rather make improvements to our SOCIETY! :)
I don’t think that will be fair the name was given to honor a man that put a lot oof work and mapped richards bay. The name is known world wide and should remain
This is rediculous ! ! ! Spend the money rather on hunger people and crime. What next ! Land claims ?
“Honey, where are we going for holiday next year?”
“Dear, I’ve already booked us into the Mandlazini caravan park”
people are gone crazy about name changes to suit the masses. hows about changing the name of the JOHANNESBURG STOCK EXCHANGE and then this country will see how many foreign investors disappearing.
I left Richards Bay 9 years ago and no matter what you change the name to – it will always be Richards Bay – the place where I went to school, the place I got married, the place I had my children, the place where loved ones still live, the place where my mom passed away, the place where my grandmother was murdered – but still Richards Bay – my home, my heart, my existence.
So what that 14 year old boy went through is suddenly nothing ? How can the change a name that has such a story behind it. Its not like its named after just anything. And no1 will use that new name – it will always be ‘bays’ even to those of us that dont live there.
No, leave things the way they are there is nothing wrong with it. it angers me when you want to change the names of places. It confuses people and it is our history and therfore should not be changed. It’s called richards bay for a reason and you want to change the name to something that doesn’thave anything to do with the area being founded. It is an absolute waste of money where te could rather use it to fight crime and uphold the town
RBM,RBCT etc will also have to be renamed?Imagine saying; ” I am working at Mandlazini Minerals or Mandlazini Coal terminal.” It’s just not the same.What about all th eschools in the area?Do they change their names as well?
Part of being a proud South African is our ability digest where we were and where we are. If these historical names are removed then our reference point and history goes with it. We need to keep the names that we have and just keep naming the ‘new’roads and towns that are established after 1994.
There are hungry homeless people out there and we are worried about getting fame and glory and using taxpayers funds for trivial matters.
I think as the people of RICHARDS BAY, we should petition against the name change. WE LIVE HERE!!! THIS IS OUR HOME!!! AND WE SHOULD HAVE A SAY ON WEATHER OR NOT THE NAME GETS CHANGED!!! Does the Government even realize how changing one minor detail of a place changes the WHOLE dynamic of the area? As for changing the “John Ross Highway” if they really wanted to change the name why didn’t they propose to do so BEFORE they started with the construction? We understand the struggles everyone has gone though but changing the identity of Richards Bay is not the answer. And just like most of the other people who have commented I too believe that this will be a waste of TAXPAYERS money!!!
I do like the name Richards Bay, but I don’t understand the people below blaming our local government for considering this matter.
The Mthiyane Traditional Authority made this submission not our local government.And the Local leaders are now dealing with this submission. Nothing else!
If you had a submission yourself, you would want local government to consider it seriously too.
If you oppose this submission, you can do so! Get active like the Mthiyane Authority got active.
Sad are the derogatory comments about Inkosi Mqedi. (Who is he anyway?) Only because you don’t know him, doesn’t mean that he is unknown to others. He seems to be important to some people of this community.
Truth told, I didn’t know the story behind the name John Ross until I read this article.
Name changes have happened throughout history and not only in South Africa. Leningrad was changed back to St.Petersburg and Stalingrad into Wolgograd in Russia. Karl-Marx-Stadt in Germany was changed back to Chemnitz.
Nearly all French cities had Latin names at some point in time and were changed back into French names.
Some cities like Durban were always refered to by its Zulu name “eThekwini” by the Zulu speaking majority, so why not consider a change.
I do like the name Richards Bay, but blaming government for taking a submission seriously, doesn’t make sense.
I fully support the name change. When the then regime opted to name it Richards Bay they never consulted the locals. Now the locals have a change to air their views and let it be called Mandlanzini and I love the name Mandlanzini. Even the Great Shaka if he can rise and see the signboard- Mandlazini he will smile and remember where he use to collect his spears.
Name changes cost money. That money could have been spent on housing, or water to the poor etc. The other more significant problem with name changes is that it is subject to the political party in charge. History will tell us that the powers that govern changes and when they change, they also change names. If it is changed to Mandlazini and the power shifts in the next election, the name will change again and so on and on.
If a name is changed, it should be changed to a name that is not linked to a person, political party or group of people. For example, North Harbour
Stop the fussing and FIX the )#*&$#* roads!!
So much more that the money can be spent on. Changing the name will not change history, look to the future and stop blaming the past.
Somebody please educate the Tribal Authority concerned. This money was contributed by the the Tax Payer and it should be used wisely.
At a time like this when elections are just around the corner, decisions like these maybe be just another nail in the coffin.
With Richards Bay it is predominantly a large industrial area with large businesses that mainly produce or transport materials for exports. Like with Durban and Cape Town there are broader international issues to consider that if thought about very carefully negate any logical rationale for a name change. The costs would be immense not only for the local authorities (and tax payers)but would add unnecessary costs to the companies trying to compete in the international market. All major centres such as Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, etc., have retained their name(s)so what is the issue? When one thinks about all the major outstanding work needed to be done in the city and environs; why throw money away?
This is a terrible idea and those who propose the name change should be prepared to pay the costs of changing the name, and give some financial guarantee before this is considered.
Name changes are an extremely disruptive issue, that have long lasting impacts on a variety of issues, especially as one can not go back into history and change all maps ever printed, as well as road signs and business addresses.
We have already undergone a change in the municipality names, and this issue should have been brought up at that time. bringing this up at this very late stage is thus in my opinion very vindictive and a racial issue.
This request for a name change should thus be treated as such a racial issue and be given the attention that it deserves from a racial perspective. This will only please a small few people in the country and be disruptive to the rest of the country where they will be forced to change road signs from Durban to Ermelo along the N2 and also in many other places inland of the area.
What does it cost to place a road sign along the N2.. evaluate just this one change and then think of all the other changes like business cards, business brochures, street signs and so many more.
why waste money and effort on name changes.
Sad everything gets changed and wiped out of existence
Why not spend the money on education – educate these people on MIND CHANGE instead of NAME CHANGE. What a waste of money. They won’t listen to the people in any case.
“..who were displaced to allow for the development of Richards Bay and to honour their suffering.” WHAT?
First of all: If Richards Bay wasn’t developed, it wouldn’t be here today. And it’s not like they were told to just leave… They were given another piece of land, and also, “to honour their suffering”: The ones who suffered are DEAD… long time! Rather use the money to help Children in homes who are currently suffering – because the ANC promised them proper homes!!! FLIPPEN WAKE UP!!!!!!!!! But Then again… I’m sure the ANC makes money out of Name changing!!!
Well done Mandla Gumede! Why not rather use the money to fix up certain areas like Mzungazi. Some people there don’t have running water… Children get sick, some of the ‘roads’ there are dangerous to children going to school… What you mean in other words, change history. I’m not sure if you know this, but you can not change history, but you damn sure can change the future… 10 points to you.
Well done cbeneke yourself. Mzungazi is Mzingazi.
richards bay were = clean,good roads,safe,fishing paradise,etc…. so change the name,they gonna do it anyway…
mandlazini currently= dirty,pothole roads,very dangerous fishing environment,beaches littered with bottles etc etc….so the ‘new’ name suits better ….
So all those people that want the name changed, come lets change your name becuase u got a name that conflicts with somebody from the past. Lets see how u like that….Catch a wake up, money & time can be spent on improving human life
Another waste of time and money. Rather use the money for schools, rural hospitals and fixing up the disgusting roads!!
Whaha Stephen… U see… I cant even spell the names… Imagine that!!
Can they not use all that money for something useful – like better health care for this country. Really stupid changing the names of everything when they can be using the money for things that are more important and much more urgent.
Just another attempt to get a few votes from the masses, by promoting yet another useless name change. Why not use the money to fix Zuma’s promises of the past to give something back to the community, by creating jobs and building houses for the masses, or did they forget those promises?
Its riduculous,theres nothing wrong about a name Richards bay,rather than a sillyfoolboring old fashioned ever invalid name nAtal,a name is worser than death,look at the grave injustice perpetuated in KwaZulu residents,natal slaughtered thousands of people even the aged unable to protect themselves such iniquities took place during oxwagonwheel imperialism,a portuguese name natal must go away together with its capital city pietermaritzburg,as it has nothing to do with us.
I would rather the name Richardsbay is not changed. Why not change the name of the beach or suburb to Mandlazini. I suppose the road can be changed.
I lived in Zululand when IFP and DA were “ruling”.I should however thank the ANC for bringing development into the North Coast where IFP seems to have failed
Name changes brings about a Legacy of traditionally and original ownership of the land,it restore the image of African leaders and community that was tarnished by settlers who dispossessed our land for the benefit of themselves and their generations to come,it is a simply correction of wrong doing by those wo claimed to radial superior to Africans.It will also create an opportunity for beneficiaries to claim and be compensated for the loss of their belongings
I think its a good idea!
Never liked the name “richards bay” it sounds way to British, a real African name would be better. Those who don,t like the idea should leave.
This matter is of great concern as it serves no purpose other than to please a select few. We are reading on a weekly basis about the people in the rural areas who do not have access to drinking water and proper ablution facilities. Not to mention children falling down latrine pits and residents of Mandlazini, polluting our household water due to illegal sub-division of stands for which there are no sewage removal infra-structure. Why does our local government want to waste our hard earned money paid on taxes on changing our city’s name? Rather spend the money on the above-mentioned issues. I find our local government’s severe underspending of the budget rather concerning. What is the purpose of the underspending? Is it maybe to line their own pockets?
Wat a waist of money just for personal issues
when there is so much more going on
I agree with Sipho. The name must change so that aleast the ANC can be remembered for something.
What a waste of time and tax payer’s money!
As a resident of Mandlazini myself,i agree with the reasons to change the name but im worried but the impact it will have on our import/export and worldwide trade.i was born in Ntambanana and evrytime i take a drive with my mom,she will always point out spots where families used to have their houses etc,it makes me sad but it happend.how do we move on from that is the question..But before that,i would like to have proper roads,community upliftment centers for our youth.People black/white have their own habits,lifestyles,cultures.we will always be different.lets focus on the future and moving this country foward.the Mkhizes and the Viljoens can sit together and braai,share ideas,be productive.so the name change can wait for now..
I have lived in Richards Bay for 42 years and I con honestly say there was absolutely nothing here in the early days besides a small trading station on ‘The Hill’… Now years and years later it’s one of the most successfull economical hubs in South Africa… If it wasn’t for the vision of folk from the past there would still be nothing. It’s because of ‘their’ vision that we have what we have today and now some clever political puppet wants to stamp his/her name on a legacy that he/she did not create. For what? It’s such a pity not a single african country can claim to have been developed by the indigenous residents, but that seems to be a whole different discussion… Let’s just change the name so another puppet can feel good about themselves.
Can our Government / Municipality not focus on more dire areas in need of improvement, e.g. hospitals etc. Really, if we all had to go back in history in all countries worldwide, it would be a costly exercise if we all decided to change names. Lets focus on today and tomorrow and forget yesterday, we need to improve our current situation and upgrade where necessary – changing a name costs money, lets spend it wisely on our future generation!!!!!
So the idea is written that “allegedly without consulting the Mthiyane or Mandlazini Tribe, confiscated the land in the mid-70s and relocated the community to Ntambanana.” Surely the tribe did not reject the relocation at the time. The compensation was satisfactory at the time. None the less, How much has the said tribe done since then, what development has been achieved? Over 100 years have passed! To honor suffering… How negative!! What an expense. Without studying I think of map books, school books, ocean charts, world wide printed information that would have to be changed. Is life not already expensive enough?
It is just a waste of money that is all, rather buy food and clothes to people in need. Why want to change it after all these yrs.
Do not agree about name changes as is a waste of money.The money that can be use for name changes can be use to fix potholes,maybe make a bigger road from Brakenham to town or better service delivery.Lest use money wisely were is needed and not for nonsense.