However, while the approvals are in place, Mohlala stressed that the changes still need to be gazetted, with the formal publication process expected to take place in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Department spokesperson Zimasa Velaphi also confirmed to The Herald <\/strong><\/a>that a broader statement would be issued to clarify the scope of the changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Eastern Cape has played host to several attempts to change historic names in the province, which have been met with wide backlash from residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the case of East London, the proposed renaming follows a public consultation process conducted by the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Eastern Cape government signalled in 2024<\/strong><\/a> that it would push for the renaming of East London and make it a priority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meetings were held in Qonce, Mdantsane and several coastal areas during March and April 2025, as required by law before applications are submitted to national authorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The name change to KuGompo was previously rejected because there was already a small town with that name in the province. This has apparently been resolved by adding “City” to the name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For the historic town of Graaff-Reinet, previous attempts to change the name were met with significant community opposition, to the point that the national Names Council did not recommend the change in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, at the time, the provincial council made it clear that the matter was not finalised and that the changes were rejected by the department due to a “lack of information”, which could be collated for future applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Graaff-Reinet is the fourth-oldest town in South Africa, established in 1786 and named after the then Cape Governor Cornelis Jacob van de Graaff and his wife, Reinet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The coming namesake, Robert Sobukwe, was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary and founding member of the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n The latest changes appear to form part of a much wider wave of renaming applications currently moving through government structures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Responding to a parliamentary question late last year, McKenzie revealed that 104 applications for geographical name changes had been submitted during the past financial year and in 2025 to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Of these, 53 were lodged during the 2024\/25 financial year, with the majority coming from KwaZulu-Natal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During that period, KwaZulu-Natal accounted for 46 applications, followed by four from the Eastern Cape, two from Limpopo and one from Gauteng.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since the start of the 2025\/26 financial year on 1 April 2025, a further 51 applications have been received.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once again, KwaZulu-Natal dominates the list with 38 submissions, while the Eastern Cape has applied for nine changes, which more than likely included East London and Graaff-Reinet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Limpopo has submitted two applications, with the North West and Free State contributing one each.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Geographical name changes remain one of the most contentious issues in South Africa\u2019s post-apartheid landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Supporters believe that renaming towns, cities and landmarks is essential to confronting and moving beyond a colonial and apartheid past, and to restoring indigenous and liberation-era heritage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, critics argue that the processes are often politically driven, fail to reflect the views of all residents, and can impose economic costs on businesses, tourism and local governments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since 1994, more than 1,500 geographical features have been officially renamed and gazetted across South Africa, including towns, settlements, rivers, mountains, roads and airports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n KwaZulu-Natal has recorded the highest number of changes, followed closely by the Eastern Cape and Limpopo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most recently, King Misuzulu kaZwelithini called for KwaZulu-Natal itself to be renamed KwaZulu.<\/p>\n\n\n\nA contentious subject <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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