Block 7 residents reject Ditimamodimo

Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday April 27, 2015 17:52

 

The decision was taken by close to 300 residents of the middle-income area at a meeting in which area councillor Batlhalefeng Letlhage, mayor Kagiso Thutlwe and council physical planners were invited.

The incensed residents gave the mayor a two-weeks ultimatum to have consulted the physical planners, who did not attend the meeting, to remove the billboards bearing the name Ditimamodimo. One resident Pako Tsimanyana said the name Ditimamodimo does not bring dignity to their location.

“This name is associated with Satanism things. At first we were not consulted about this name. We reject this name because it  brings curse into our lives. We are Christians and therefore we cannot tolerate these kind of names, which we don’t even know what they mean,” Tsimanyana said.

Tebogo Mosienyane said Block 7 residents should be given time to come up with a better name, as they would not accept a name just because it is of ward in Serowe.

“May be Serowe people know the meaning of Ditimamodimo. What if they named that ward Ditimamodimo after something evil had happened to them. It should be made clear to council officials that we need a better name, we have not done anything evil or something that had upset God,” Mosienyane said. He suggested that if the council failed to act on their concerns, they would petition the government, something he hoped would be avoided.  Another resident Nyaladzi Dichaba said consultation is the key thing that could build a nation. She said they do not want to be stigmatised by people because of the name that they do not support.

“We are going to have another meeting next week Wednesday and I hope physical planning officers would be there to give us better explanation. I hope our concern would be taken seriously by council. What we want from council is to take out their boards while they are still resolving the issue surrounding our location. What’s wrong with calling this location Block 7?” Dichaba said.

In response, mayor Thutlwe promised the residents that full council meeting, which is expected to sit in June, would discuss the matter. “The council would discuss this issue in our next full council meeting. I don’t why physical planners decided not to attend the meeting. I hope they will give you proper explanation and listen to your cry,” Thutlwe said.