Potchefstroom - A little-known organisation has taken offence at the city council blaming "racist anarchists" for the vandalism of new street signs.
The Zabalaza Anarchist Communist Federation (ZACF) said its reputation had been "besmirched" by the remarks of council spokesperson Kaizer Mohau.
The ZACF said: "We presume that Mohau is simply politically naive in... his mistaken attribution of these acts of vandalism."
It described itself as a "small but active anarchist movement in southern Africa".
Mohau said on Monday that "racist anarchists" in Potchefstroom were removing new street name signs and dumping them in the Vaal River.
Mohau said a street sign for Nelson Mandela Rylaan had also been defaced to read "Dela Rylaan" - an apparent reference to Boer war general Koos de la Rey.
"Sixty percent of new progressive street names have been removed in the last few months," he said.
Mohau said these actions were aimed at causing what he termed "political and social instability" and would not be tolerated.
He said 15 to 20 new street name signs had been dumped in the Vaal River by racist anarchists.
The ZACF said the defacement of signs had been "clearly" carried out by racist rightwingers opposed to transformation. "Not by leftwingers among whom we anarchists proudly count ourselves," it said.
Feelings have been running high in the past few months about proposals to rename Potchefstroom as Tlokwe.
The final decision has not been taken.
