East London will officially be renamed KuGompo City, while Graaff-Reinet will become Robert Sobukwe Town, following the approval of 21 geographical name changes by Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie.
The changes, which span several provinces and followed nationwide public consultations, are expected to be gazetted in the coming weeks.
South African Geographical Names Council (SAGNC) chairperson Johnny Mohlala confirmed that the minister had signed off on the approved names.
“The minister has signed the names, but they still need to be gazetted,” Mohlala told the Daily Dispatch.
“Any objection raised before a name is gazetted is considered premature, and the act does not require us to deal with petitions.”
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in the Eastern Cape has welcomed the renaming of East London and other towns, describing the move as a necessary step in correcting South Africa’s colonial past.
The party says the changes were long overdue.
“The EFF in the Eastern Cape notes and welcomes the renaming of towns such as East London, commonly known as Emonti, to the proposed name KuGompo City, as well as the renaming of other towns in the province,” the statement read.
The party argued that many town names still reflect colonial oppression rather than the identities and histories of African communities.
“The EFF maintains that place names are not neutral. They carry meaning, memory and identity,” the party said.
“Continuing to live, study and work in spaces named after colonial oppressors reinforces a painful history of exclusion and undermines the dignity of African people.”
While backing the renaming process, the EFF stressed that symbolic change must be accompanied by tangible improvements in people’s lives.
“Renaming towns alone will not resolve unemployment, poverty, inequality and poor service delivery,” the party said.
“It must be part of a wider programme of economic freedom, land restoration and social justice.”
The EFF added that it supports open community engagement around renaming processes and rejected claims that the changes are intended to divide communities.
“Renaming is not meant to divide people or erase anyone’s personal history. It is about fixing past injustices and making sure that everyone, especially the African majority, feels recognised and respected,” it said.
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