Several more name changes have been announced for South Africa. The changes were gazetted on 16 March by Nathi Mthethwa the Minister of Sport, Art and Culture.
Coastline of the Eastern Cape where several towns and villages have been renamed, adopting pre-colonial monikers. Picture: Elise Kirsten
As reported by Business Tech, The changes will impact Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape, where certain towns, settlements and areas will have their names changed.
These changes are in addition to the other areas in South Africa that had new names registered officially in the outlines of the South African Geographical Names Council Act.
Mthethwa said that the changes of various geographical names across South Africa are ‘a critical component of the heritage landscape as a whole’.
The Eastern Cape provincial government is also considering further name changes, which will be decided through a public consultation process.
‘There was a need for the name changes as this is part of a government programme to transform South Africa’s heritage landscape,’ said Mthethwa. ‘The names of places we live in reflect the identity and cultural heritage of the people of South Africa.’
Here is the full list of name changes:
Eastern Cape
- Mount Fletcher (town) will change to Tlokoeng.
- St Augustine (village) will change to Mahlubini.
Mpumalanga
- Driehoek (area) will change to Uhlelo.
- Donkerhoek (area) will change to eNtababusuku.
- Allmansdrift (settlement) will change to Maphanga.
Some other notable name changes so far include:
- Port Elizabeth to Gqeberha.
- Uitenhage to Kariega.
- King Williamstown to Qonce.
- East London Airport to King Phalo Airport.
- Port Elizabeth Airport to Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport.
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