The person, Elaine Trepper, carrying the title of Deputy Mayor of Windhoek, allegedly pronounced herself in opposition to an already approved Management Council decision to honour a Windhoek community activist, 80-year-old Richardine Kloppers, by naming a street after her.

Trepper argued that a street as well as my suburb Kloppersdal was already named after Kloppers's late husband.

She allegedly further said that any Jan, Piet or Sanna would want a street named after them.

My first reaction was: What an embarrassment! How could anyone be so feeble-minded to oppose such a noble gesture! Does Trepper know the contribution of Mrs Kloppers to Windhoek society? I furiously shared this outrageous statement of Trepper with a friend who asked me very calmly: "Who is Elaine Trepper?" I responded by saying "The Deputy Mayor".

"Of which town?" he asked.

Then it dawned on me: Trepper is unknown! (Like any Jan, Piet or Sanna).

You have to add a reference to her name in order to make her significant.

I realised that one day if the City of Windhoek wants to name a street after Trepper, it should be called "Elaine Trepper Street, Deputy Mayor of Windhoek-2006".

For such a long street name a billboard would be needed! (Not as small as the one to the entrance of Kloppersdal).

Then, I will have to ask the same question as Trepper: "Who will pay for it?" I wonder what went through the heads of Mayor Matheus Shikongo and Councillor Bjorn Von Finckenstein when the latter even had to assure Trepper that all criteria had been met.

Let me take a guess: "Typical Coloured, they never have a good word for their own".

Or maybe "Oh, so predictable! And I thought she represents the Coloured people here".

Madame Trepper, some friendly advice for the next time when you sit in on meetings to discuss the naming of our streets in Khomasdal: Firstly, tell the Khomasdallers who you are, tell them where you are coming from, tell them that they should think hard and then they will remember that you were in Khomasdal at Swapo's second Star rally in 1989 (maybe that got you the ticket on their behalf to sit on the City Council chair).

Secondly, go around Khomasdal and meet our community leaders.

We have many! Next time I will not forgive your ignorance when the names of Adolf de Klerk, Nguno Nakamela, Nico Bessinger, (Tannie) de Vos and others land on your table - they are not Jan, Piet and Sanna.

Phil D, Khomasdal

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