Only in Africa

A name is a name is a name. Emotive to some - not important to others. Regardless of where your name loyalties lie, what South Africa seems to be expert at is changing them. By whoever, after whoever.

Take Johannesburg's airport: Jan Smuts airport, to Johannesburg International Airport to O.R Tambo International Airport. Three names in the space of 11 years. Once, to get rid of the past. Twice, because - well, just because.

Take the northern-most part of South Africa. Used to be the northern Transvaal, then the Northern Province and most recently, Limpopo. Again, all in the space of 11 years.

Take the tabled changes for another province formerly known as Natal, currently known as KwaZulu Natal and possibly soon to be known just as KwaZulu.

Our problem is that there are just too many stakeholders. Everyone wants their 15 minutes of fame - despite promises to keep things neutral and politically 'correct'.

But a name is a name is a name. Heck, my mother still refers to Rhodesia and South West Africa. Does she care what the sign says on the town outskirts? Not really.

Perhaps we could get donor funding on standing order to foot all the continual and ongoing name changes? What do you say donor countries? It will certainly keep all the map-makers busy worldwide and provide income for them for generations.