Editing Pretoria (section)

==Proposed change of name==
On 26 May 2005 the [[South African Geographical Names Council]] (SAGNC), which is linked to the Directorate of Heritage in the [[Department of Arts and Culture (South Africa)|Department of Arts and Culture]], approved changing the name of Pretoria to [[Tshwane]], which is already the name of the [[City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality|Metropolitan Municipality]]<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4584211.stm |title=Pretoria name change is approved |work=BBC News |date=27 May 2005 |access-date=3 July 2010 |archive-date=19 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210219205820/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4584211.stm |url-status=live}}</ref> in which Pretoria and a number of surrounding cities are located. Although the name change was approved by the SAGNC, it was not approved by the [[Minister of Arts and Culture]], who at the time requested further research on the matter. Should the Minister approve the name change, the name will be published in the [[Government Gazette of South Africa|Government Gazette]], giving the public opportunity to comment on the matter. The Minister can then refer that public response back to the SAGNC before presenting a recommendation before parliament for a vote. Various public interest groups warned that any name change would be challenged in court, should the minister approve it. The long process involved makes a name change less likely.

The Tshwane Metro Council has advertised "Africa's leading capital city" as ''Tshwane'' since the SAGNC decision in 2005. This has led to further controversy, however, as the name of the city had not yet been changed, and the council was, at best, acting prematurely. When a complaint was lodged with the [[Advertising Standards Authority (South Africa)|Advertising Standards Authority]] (ASA), it ruled that such advertisements are deliberately misleading and should be withdrawn from all media.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/Politics/0,9294,2-7-12_2097251,00.html |title=SABC pulls 'Tshwane city' ads |publisher=News24.com |date=11 April 2007 |access-date=3 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090309023142/http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/Politics/0%2C9294%2C2-7-12_2097251%2C00.html |archive-date=9 March 2009}}</ref> Despite the rulings of the ASA, Tshwane Metro Council failed to discontinue their "City of Tshwane" advertisements. As a result, the ASA requested that Tshwane Metro pay for advertisements in which it admits that it has misled the public. After refusing to abide by the ASA's request, the Metro Council was banned from placing any advertisements in the South African media that refer to the capital as Tshwane. ASA may still place additional sanctions on the Metro Council that would prevent it from placing any advertisements in the South African media, including council notices and employment vacancies.<ref>{{cite web |author=Independent Online |url=http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=594&art_id=vn20070423045707464C538603 |title=SA capital advert row sparks ad-alert threat, IOL |publisher=Iol.co.za |access-date=3 July 2010 |archive-date=18 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090218213345/http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=594&art_id=vn20070423045707464C538603 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fin24.co.za/articles/business/display_article.aspx?Nav=ns&lvl2=buss&ArticleID=1518-1786_2103974 |title=Media can't place Tshwane ads, FIN24 |publisher=Fin24.co.za |access-date=3 July 2010}}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

After the ruling, the Metro Council continued to place ''Tshwane'' advertisements, but placed them on council-owned advertising boards and busstops throughout the municipal area. In August 2007, an internal memo was leaked to the media in which the Tshwane mayor sought advice from the [[Premier of Gauteng|premier of Gauteng]] on whether the municipality could be called the "City of Tshwane" instead of just "Tshwane".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/Politics/0,,2-7-12_2158167,00.html |title=Down with Pretoria signs!: South Africa: Politics |publisher=News24 |date=2 August 2007 |access-date=3 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090309023138/http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/Politics/0%2C%2C2-7-12_2158167%2C00.html |archive-date=9 March 2009}}</ref> This could increase confusion about the distinction between the city of Pretoria and the municipality of Tshwane.

In early 2010 it was again rumoured that the South African government would make a decision regarding the name; however, a media briefing regarding name changes, which could have been an opportunity to discuss it, was cancelled shortly before taking place.<ref>{{cite web |author=Wilson Johwa |url=http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/Content.aspx?id=92376 |title=Mashatile postpones name changes after 'technicality'. |publisher=Businessday.co.za |access-date=3 July 2010 |archive-date=23 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120723234219/http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/Content.aspx?id=92376 |url-status=live}}</ref> Rumours of the name change provoked outrage from Afrikaner civil rights and political groups.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.timeslive.co.za/news/local/article287159.ece |title=AfriForum to fight for Pretoria name. |publisher=Timeslive.co.za |access-date=3 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100203184916/http://www.timeslive.co.za/news/local/article287159.ece |archive-date=3 February 2010}}</ref> It later emerged that the registration of the municipality as a geographic place had been published in the Government Gazette as it had been too late to withdraw the name from the publication,<ref>{{cite web |author=Independent Online |url=http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?art_id=vn20100203042043944C666729 |title=Pretoria name change rethink |publisher=Iol.co.za |access-date=3 July 2010}}</ref> but it was announced that the name had been withdrawn, pending "further work" by officials.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jacarandafm.com/kagiso/content/en/jacaranda/jacaranda-news?oid=548186&sn=Detail&pid=6182&Pretoria-Tshwane-delayed |title=Pretoria/Tshwane delayed. |publisher=Jacarandafm.com |date=2 February 2010 |access-date=3 July 2010 |archive-date=13 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713072502/http://www.jacarandafm.com/kagiso/content/en/jacaranda/jacaranda-news?oid=548186&sn=Detail&pid=6182&Pretoria-Tshwane-delayed |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.politicsweb.co.za/politicsweb/view/politicsweb/en/page71654?oid=158607&sn=Detail |title=Xingwana retracts Pretoria name change. |publisher=Politicsweb.co.za |access-date=3 July 2010 |archive-date=22 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722081211/http://www.politicsweb.co.za/politicsweb/view/politicsweb/en/page71654?oid=158607&sn=Detail |url-status=live}}</ref> The following week, the registration of "Tshwane" was officially withdrawn in the Government Gazette.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.iafrica.com/sa/2208061.htm |title=It's officially Pretoria. iafrica.com |publisher=News.iafrica.com |access-date=3 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100209002319/http://news.iafrica.com/sa/2208061.htm |archive-date=9 February 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jacarandafm.com/kagiso/content/en/jacaranda/jacaranda-news?oid=550881&sn=Detail&pid=6182&Pretoria-is-Pretoria-again---for-now |title=Pretoria is Pretoria again – for now. |publisher=Jacarandafm.com |access-date=3 July 2010 |archive-date=13 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713072549/http://www.jacarandafm.com/kagiso/content/en/jacaranda/jacaranda-news?oid=550881&sn=Detail&pid=6182&Pretoria-is-Pretoria-again---for-now |url-status=live}}</ref> The retraction had reportedly been ordered at the behest of the [[Deputy President of South Africa]] [[Kgalema Motlanthe]], acting on behalf of President Jacob Zuma, as minister of Arts and Culture [[Lulu Xingwana]] had acted contrary to the position of the ANC, which is that Pretoria and the municipality are separate entities, which was subsequently articulated by ANC secretary general [[Gwede Mantashe]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.leadershiponline.co.za/articles/politics/487-government-policy |title=Government policy.'Leadership' |publisher=Leadershiponline.co.za |date=23 March 2010 |access-date=3 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100611151631/http://www.leadershiponline.co.za/articles/politics/487-government-policy |archive-date=11 June 2010}}</ref>

In March 2010 a group supporting the name change, calling themselves the "Tshwane Royal House Committee", claimed to be descendants of Chief Tshwane and demanded to be made part of the administration of the municipality.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/article354858.ece |title=Tshwane Royals: 'Change Pretoria for benefit of all'. |publisher=Timeslive.co.za |access-date=3 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100317140308/http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/article354858.ece |archive-date=17 March 2010}}</ref>

According to comments made by Mayor [[Kgosientso Ramokgopa]] in late 2011, the change would occur in 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Pretoria-will-become-Tshwane-mayor-20111122 |title=Pretoria will become Tshwane – mayor |publisher=News24 |date=22 November 2011 |access-date=16 November 2012 |archive-date=13 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513150833/http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Pretoria-will-become-Tshwane-mayor-20111122 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/old-cities-new-names |title=Old cities, new names &#124; Radio Netherlands Worldwide |publisher=Rnw.nl |access-date=16 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118070506/http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/old-cities-new-names |archive-date=18 January 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> However, there remained considerable uncertainty about the issue.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.beeld.com/Suid-Afrika/Nuus/Pretoria-of-Tshwane-Minister-weet-self-nie-20120127 |title=Pretoria of Tshwane? Minister weet self nie |publisher=Beeld |date=27 January 2012 |access-date=16 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120131013909/http://www.beeld.com/Suid-Afrika/Nuus/Pretoria-of-Tshwane-Minister-weet-self-nie-20120127 |archive-date=31 January 2012}}</ref>

{{As of|2025}}, the proposed name change has not occurred.