Should Sterkhorn be renamed Mount Mandela?

Wow, I wonder if there is footage of that concert on the escarpment with our dear Madiba? That must have been a powerful experience.
Renaming a 200 million year old peak? I don't know, I'm not qualified to have an opinion about that.

/L

I have nothing in particular against Mandela, not having ever met him, but politicians and passing news generally must stay out of the Drakensberg history and heritage. Otherwise expect the floodgates to open. Here are just a few possibilities:

Madonna and her worshippers: Zuma and all his wives
Mbundini Buttress: Malema’s Butt
Mnweni Cutback : Rajbansi’s Double-Cut-Back
Mlambonja Pass : Mlambomlungu Pass
Devil’s Tooth : Manto Tshabalala's Fang
Cock-ade: Dirk-Prinsloo Heights
Champagne Castle : Kenny Kunene’s Sushi
Judge Pass: Hlope Pass
Gatberg: His Holiness DesmondBerg
Western Triplet: South-South Triplet (formerly Imperialist Triplet)
Ntabamhlope: NthaboMbeki
Spioenkop: Bloody Agent Peak

I believe the concert was held on the escarpment near Champagne Castle. No online references as the story was told to me by the Master-in-Charge of our hiking club at Pretoria Boys High School, some 10 years ago. This is the first I have heard of it since then.

Off topic I know, but since the Berg community tends to be quite a small world, I'll give it a shot anyway: This master-in-charge was Mr Craig Ford, a springbok scout and originally from Howick. Does anybody know of him (or does he perhaps trawl these forums)? He introduced me to the Berg on a 6-day hike up Organ Pipes, down Gray's and back along the contour path back in Dec 2000.

I remember the occasion well, but don't recall anything in the press about it. It was big news for the community in the valley. I remember somebody from one of the resorts near the airforce base recounting the numerous trips to ferry equipment to the top. They also told of one of the loads of a hanging net of chairs coming loose and ending up in one of the remote valleys somewhere.
The only reference I found was in a government website:

Sorry, link didn't work.
www.thepresidency.gov.za/pebble.asp?relid=934

I think the peak already has an historical identity as a memorial to some. It would be sad to see it changed.

So does that mean I will have to change my profile?

While my 1st instinct is to be anti- name change to that which I have grown up with and accustomed to, I can understand where this comes from. Our country has come thro a peaceful transition (consider the rest of turbulent Africa and our very own diverse and antagonistic history), and why not a national hero being honoured in SA’s greatest Mountain Range. Infact I think a peak that is more identifiable with the Berg, eg Cathedral Peak be worthy of being renamed Mt Mandela.

In the creation of a New South Africa we cannot exempt pockets eg WH sites from being involved cos as a whole : the People, the places, the natural resources, its everything that makes SA what it is today.
Its not a matter of bringing politics into The Berg.. it’s a matter of honouring those who sacrificed family and life so that you and I can live a life free of persecution (lets face it, we could easily have degenerated into a Zim). Cos the scary thought is that you and your family could be living in the Berg outta necessity rather than as we do now for pleasant getaway option. Think “what if …”. That considered, a name change is a small inconvenience to bear for those who don’t readily accept it. This name change will have more South Africans identifying with The Berg and all the benefits that come with it.
We should embrace being part of the creation of a New Nation that makes it inclusive for all and to all places in our land and not hold onto sentiments of the past.
So, whilst I cant pronounce some new Town names and love the way some old one’s rolled off my tongue, I accept and approve of the reasoning behind the name changes.

Looking back in the History of the Berg, many local names (note I said “many” not “all” ) were discarded in favour of English names. So, who considers the opinions of the locals who I think rightfully has traditional naming rights to the Berg and its peaks ? So now many want to hold onto ‘stolen’ names .... double standards methinks !

To summarise : if u accepted name changes to as we know them now, accept the new ones. If u condemn the proposed changes then condemn the change from the traditional names as well.

I say call it what you will, The Berg will always remain beautiful to me. A rose by any other name …….

Just my 2c worth … take it, leave it ……