What's in a name? A lot of money, if you're in local government. When the decision of the Johannesburg city council to change the name of D F Malan Drive to Beyers Naude Drive was carried out, it cost the ratepayers R250 000 - and that was for materials alone, not counting transport or labour costs.
Admittedly the busy road, which carried the name of the first National Party prime minister and now honours one of the first Afrikaner rebels against apartheid, is one of Johannesburg's longest at more than 20 km.
But should money be spent on gestures that are symbolically important, while the practical realities of unemployment and poverty cry out for whatever relief can be made available?
Just to erect new street names at a simple suburban T-junction costs around R750. According to the Johannesburg roads agency, the rectangular metal plate that displays the street name costs R195 (two needed at a T-junction), while the 3,6 m pole that supports it is R107. The names that are stencilled in paint on the stone kerbs (three in this case) cost R50 apiece. Transport works out at about R55/ pole, labour at R50.
Of course, the more street names that are changed, the greater the cost knock-on effect in terms of other signage, not to mention the instant redundancy of maps and business stationery - and the confusion among people trying to find their way.
If name-changing is to continue, it may well be easier, cheaper and less confusing to change the name of an entire city and leave it at that.
Polokwane (formerly Pietersburg) in Limpopo (formerly Northern Province, formerly part of Transvaal) has taken a gradualist approach to municipal signage.
"When something needs to be repainted or renewed in the normal course of maintenance, then we change the name," says Polokwane spokesman Derrick Tshipelane. "New signs show the new name, but there are still signs around saying Pietersburg.
"When the old municipal stationery - like water and electricity bills - runs out, only then do we replace it," Tshipelane adds. Sensible approach.
