By Zanele Makola
East London is set to be renamed KuGompo City, while the historic town of Graaff-Reinet is expected to become Robert Sobukwe Town, following the approval of 21 geographical name changes by Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie.
The South African Geographical Names Council has confirmed that the approvals are not yet final and still need to be gazetted, a process expected to be completed in the coming weeks. Once gazetted, the changes will become official. The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture has indicated that a comprehensive statement outlining the full scope of the renaming process will be issued.
In the Eastern Cape, proposed name changes have often sparked strong public debate. The renaming of East London follows a legally mandated public consultation process led by the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, with community meetings held in Qonce, Mdantsane and surrounding coastal areas in March and April 2025. An earlier proposal was rejected after it emerged that another town already carried the name KuGompo, an issue now addressed by appending “City” to the new name.
Previous attempts to rename Graaff-Reinet were unsuccessful, with proposals rejected in 2024 amid community resistance and concerns about insufficient public information. However, provincial authorities maintained that the matter remained open for reconsideration. Founded in 1786, Graaff-Reinet is South Africa’s fourth-oldest town and was originally named after Cornelis Jacob van de Graaff and his wife, Reinet. The proposed new name seeks to honour Robert Sobukwe, an anti-apartheid leader and founding member of the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC).
The latest approvals form part of a broader national trend in geographical renaming. According to the ministry, 104 applications for name changes were submitted during the past financial year and in 2025 to date, with KwaZulu-Natal accounting for the highest number, followed by the Eastern Cape and Limpopo. Since 1994, more than 1,500 geographical features across South Africa have been officially renamed.
Supporters of the renaming process argue that it is a necessary step in addressing the country’s colonial and apartheid legacy. Critics, however, contend that the process is often politically driven, costly, and does not always reflect the views of local communities. Most recently, King Misuzulu kaZwelithini called for KwaZulu-Natal to be renamed KwaZulu, arguing that the name “Natal” was imposed during the colonial era.
