Name change proposed for one of South Africa’s oldest towns

The African Transformation Movement (ATM) has proposed that Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie initiate processes to change the names of towns like Harrismith and Smithfield due to cultural sensitivities.

However, the minister said that it is not up to his department to start this process, saying that communities need to go through the correct steps if they want to achieve this.

The ATM put the suggestion to McKenzie in a parliamentary Q&A, saying that towns named after historical figures who caused harm to the local indigenous population should be changed.

ATM MP Vuyolwethu Zungula said the names were a painful reminder to the AmaXhosa Kingdom in particular, as it was their King, Hintsa kaKhawuta, who was captured and eventually killed in 1835 by Harry Smith, governor of the Cape Colony at the time, and his men.

Harrismith is one of South Africa’s oldest towns. It is a prominent locaton in the Free State, named after the Cape governor when it was founded in 1849.

It is a well-known and popular overnight stop for travellers on the N3 route as was as a refuelling location for trucks and vehicles. It also serves as a gateway spot for other popular tourism destinations close by.

The town has faced calls for name changes before, with proposals put forward as far back as 2005 to change its name to Intabazwe.

A proposal was again put forward in 2014/15, but this did not find support from local communities, who petitioned to keep the name the same.

However, Zungula said that the department should step in to see the process launched once again.

Notably, Zungula also mentioned a name change for Aliwal North — another town associated with Harry Smith — but the town’s name was already changed to Maletswai in 2015, making the proposal moot.

Responding to Zungula’s request, McKenzie said that it is not the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture’s responsibility to initiate name changes in the country.

How name changes are processed in South Africa

McKenzie said name changes must start from the communities that seek the changes and follow standard operating procedures, which are highly consultative.

“(The procedures) mandate that a Provincial Geographical Names Council conduct public consultations in the area where a particular name change is being proposed,” he said.

“This step is mandatory before a name change is submitted to the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture for his consideration.”

The exact procedure that has to be followed includes:

1. Submission of a proposal by individuals, communities, or institutions via the relevant Provincial Geographical Names Committee (PGNC).
2. Public consultation facilitated by the PGNC in the affected area, ensuring compliance with the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act (PAJA).
3. Verification and recommendation by the SAGNC after assessing historical relevance, community support, and technical accuracy.
4. Final approval by the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, followed by gazetting of the approved name.

Where the proposed name honours an individual, consultation with the family of the person is a critical step to ensure respect and consent.

McKenzie added that the naming of streets and municipalities does not fall under the jurisdiction of the SAGNC, and is managed by local municipalities.

This has been demonstrated in many controversial cases, the most recent being the attempt by the City of Johannesburg to change the name of Sandton Drive to Leila Khaled Drive.

The naming of municipalities, meanwhile, falls under the jurisdiction of the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.

“However, these processes similarly involve public participation and legislative compliance, aligning broadly with the principles followed by the SAGNC,” he said.

“Communities wishing to rename places linked to colonial or painful histories in honour of King Hintsa kaKhawuta are encouraged to initiate the formal process through their PGNC.

Changes for name changes coming

While McKenzie outlined the country’s current process for name changes, his department is in the process of changing these through the South African Geographical Names Council Amendment Bill.

The draft bill was published in January for public comment. It aims to address shortcomings in the current system by formalising new provincial committees and setting up a structured appeals process.

South Africa has seen over 1,500 name changes processed since the council was established, including major towns and cities.

Some more recent examples include the renaming of Port Elizabeth to Gqeberha in 2021 and a shift away from iconic names like Ladysmith to uMnambithi in 2024.

However, whenever these name changes occur, there is often a huge public outcry and allegations of a lack of consultation.

Many claim to have never been aware of any name change processes underway, and that public hearings, if any, are not communicated efficiently.

Opposition parties in particular have hit back at the processes, saying that the changes are often pushed through despite opposition, with no way to appeal the process.

The new bill aims to address these issues and more.