Update

GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - The National Assembly has confirmed that the applications to change the names of certain towns within the Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality, have definitely not been approved.

This finally brings to an end the speculation about the proposed name changes, announced by Department of Sports, Arts and Culture representative, Mark Mandita in August 2023.

It was proposed that Aberdeen be renamed Camdeboo, Graaff-Reinet become Robert Sobukwe or Fred Hufkie, Adendorp be renamed Kwa Mseki Bishop Limba and Nieu-Bethesda be called Kwa Noheleni.

The National Assembly's confirmation was in response to questions submitted by DA MP Liam Jacobs upon request of the National Deputy Minister of Electricity Energy, Samantha Graham-Marè - a resident of Graaff-Reinet who also previously resided in Aberdeen - after Aberdeen residents noticed that the town's name reflects as Camdeboo on Google and Google Maps.

"We wanted absolute confirmation that the name changes had not been done," says Graham-Marè.

"If we were to find that it had been done, we were going to lodge a complaint with the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie for failing to allow a period for objections."

National Assembly responded that the South African Geographical Name Change Council referred the name change applications back to McKenzie and that he had not approved it.

According to Graham-Marè this means that the process has been completed and that none of the names will be changed unless proponents of the changes continue to pursue the matter.

However, in that event, a new process will have to be initiated.

"They will have to submit new applications because the process cannot be reinstated," explains Graham-Marè.

The DA will now contact Google to correct the erroneous listing of Aberdeen's name. 

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