LOCAL NEWS - A total of 38 544 objections were submitted against the renaming of five towns in the Eastern Cape.
These name changes - Graaff-Reinet to Robert Sobukwe, Aberdeen to Xamdeboo, Adendorp to Bishop Limba (all three in the Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality), East London to KuGompo City (Buffalo City Municipality) and Barkly East to Ekhephini (Senqu Municipality) - were signed off by the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie and published in the Government Gazette on 6 February 2026.
Graaff-Reinet accounted for 21 918 objections, followed by East London (8 628), Aberdeen (3 688), Adendorp (2 814) and Barkly East (1496).
The objections against the renaming of Graaff-Reinet, Aberdeen and Adendorp includes online objections via the Democratic Alliance petition (16 700) and objections via email by the DA and the Graaff-Reinet bly Graaff-Reinet campaigners (5 218).
Online objections submitted via the FF+ and AfriForum’s petitions, as well as objections submitted via email by other political parties, organisations and individuals are not included in this total.
The DA’s Shadow MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture, Leander Kruger, released a media statement on Friday 6 March, confirming that all these objections were submitted within the prescribed one-month objection period.
McKenzie's office has since acknowledged receipt of the Graaff-Reinet, Aberdeen and Adendorp submissions.
According to Kruger, the Minister is now required, under the South African Geographical Names Council Act, to respond to each objection individually by outlining his decision and the reasons for it.
Previous articles:
Graaff-Reinet residents rally against proposed name changes
Anti-name change march - 'Change lives, not names.'
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