The civil rights initiative AfriForum presented the organisers of the Pretoria Show with an ultimatum to recall their decision to change the name of this show to the “Tshwane Show” before 15 January 2010. If this decision were not to be recalled, AfriForum undertakes to launch a full-scale boycott action against the “Tshwane Show”.

This boycott will include that AfriForum will inform exhibitors about the potential harm that their brands could incur if they were to support the show. Immediately prior to the show, AfriForum will also distribute pamphlets to every household in Pretoria and publish advertisements in the media in which the public will be asked to boycott the “Tshwane Show”.

According to Kallie Kriel, CEO of AfriForum, the decision to take these drastic steps followed because the show organisers’ ill-considered decision, will aid the Tshwane Metropolitan Council in their efforts to mislead the public into believing that the capital’s name no longer is Pretoria.

“This, even though the legal name of the capital is Pretoria,” Kriel added. The fact that the Metropolitan Council will abuse this step, has according to Kriel, already become evident in the Metro’s response that the new name of the show will “assist in building the brand of the country’s capital city”.

This statement followed despite the fact that even government spokespeople confirm that the name of the capital is Pretoria.

Kriel pointed out that the success of the Pretoria Show can largely be ascribed to residents of Pretoria who to date have supported it annually. With this name change, Kriel says, the show is biting the hand that feeds it. “The money of the residents of Pretoria will now have to do the talking in favour of the retention of the name of Pretoria,” Kriel added.

Members of the public who wish to express their displeasure to the organisers of the show, can contact the organisers by:-

Telephone number 012-327-1487;
Fax number 012-327-1501 or
E-mail _ingrid@pretoriashow.co.za_.