Update

GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - Hundreds of Graaff-Reinet residents participated in a peaceful protest on Saturday 28 February to demonstrate their discontent with the decision made by the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, to change the name of the town to Robert Sobukwe Town. 

The notice of this decision, together with the decision to change the name of one other town - Aberdeen to Xamdeboo - and a village - Adendorp to Bishop Limba - in the Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality, was published in the Government Gazette on Friday 6 February.

Both the DA and the FF+ have subsequently released press statements objecting to the name changes and developed petitions for the public to object. 

In addition, residents and role players embarked on their own campaign - Graaff-Reinet bly Graaff-Reinet - and expressly stated that this campaign is not politically driven, it is driven by their right to meaningfully participate in government’s decision-making processes. 

Their right to be heard.

Unheard

McKenzie’ recent decision in favour of the name change came as a shock after he indicated in 2024 that it would not happen. 

The majority of people who had participated in the public meetings indicated that they were opposed to the renaming and are now gathering as many objections as possible in the 30-day period available for this purpose. 

On Sunday 1 March, it was reported that the objections submitted online via the petition launched by the DA, and the emailed objections submitted by the DA and the Graaff-Reinet bly Graaff-Reinet campaigners, already totalled 19 428. 

This excludes objections submitted via the FF+ and AfriForum’s online petitions, as well as hard-copy objections submitted via email by other political parties, organisations and individuals.

Indigenous peoples’ voices

According to Chief Daantjie Jaftha, prominent Eastern Cape leader of the Inqua tribe, the voices of the indigenous peoples have also not been heard. 

Speaking to the Graaff-Reinet Advertiser at the peaceful protest on Saturday he stated that he is not opposed to name changes in general, but definitely to this particular name change. 

The reason for this, he said, is that the Khoi-Khoi have not been adequately consulted. He contended that, when name changes are considered, the process should begin with the original names of the place - the names given to it by the First People. 

“This town had a name. In fact, it had two or three names,” said Jaftha. 

According to him this was explained at the public meeting in the Alex Laing Hall, but McKenzie’s “envoys” did not listen to them. 

“Up until today they are still not listening to us and that is why we now find ourselves divided as a community over the name”. 

He added that he also attended other public meetings and everywhere people opposed the renaming. 

“Democracy means the majority should govern, and the will of the majority should prevail. 

They did not listen to the will of the majority, and that is why I say someone must take Gayton McKenzie - the man who claims he does not ‘baiza,’ but who certainly does in Graaff-Reinet - to court, so that the process can be redone.”

Derek Light, a prominent Graaff-Reinet-based lawyer, is poised to challenge the matter in court. 

He has already sent a legal letter to McKenzie contesting the legality of the notice published in the Government Gazette. 

According to him, the notice is defective because it fails to inform the public that they have 30 days to lodge objections and where those objections should be lodged.

Those opposed to the name change still have until 5 March to object. Anyone may object, not only residents of the affected areas.

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