Yet another Eastern Cape town set for a name change
· The South African
Several historic towns in the Eastern Cape are set for new names as the province continues a programme aimed at recognising traditional leaders and figures from South Africa’s history.
The Eastern Cape Provincial Geographical Names Committee has confirmed that it will proceed with several proposed geographical name changes.
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Among the places affected are Lady Grey, Sterkspruit and Herschel, with the proposed new names being Inkosi Makhobeni, Inkosi Mpangazi and Inkosi Lihlongo, respectively.
The changes have already attracted opposition, with the Freedom Front Plus arguing that established names and historical identities are being unnecessarily removed.
One of the towns dates back more than 160 years
The proposed change to Lady Grey is particularly significant given the settlement’s long history.
The town dates back to 1857, when the Dutch Reformed Church purchased a farm to establish a new congregation. The town was founded the following year, in 1858.
It was named after Eliza Lucy Grey, the wife of Sir George Grey, who was governor of the Cape Colony between 1854 and 1859.
The town became an official municipality in 1893, giving it a history of more than 130 years as a municipality and more than 160 years as a settlement.
Two other historic settlements were also affected by name changes
Herschel is another town included in the proposed changes.
The settlement was founded in 1879 and was named after astronomer Sir John Herschel, who worked in the Cape Colony. It is proposed that Herschel be renamed Inkosi Lihlongo, while Sterkspruit would become Inkosi Mpangazi.
The new names are intended to honour historic traditional leaders.
The latest proposals form part of a wider geographical renaming programme in the Eastern Cape. Several prominent places have already received new names, including:
- East London to KuGompo City
- Graaff-Reinet to Robert Sobukwe Town
- Port Elizabeth to Gqeberha
- Morgan’s Bay to Gxarha
- Cradock to Nxuba
- Uitenhage to Kariega
- King William’s Town to Qonce
- Queenstown to Komani
- Grahamstown to Makhanda
Further changes remain in the pipeline.
Name changes remain controversialThe process has not been without resistance, however.
Residents in towns including Graaff-Reinet have previously protested against proposed changes, arguing that established names form part of their communities’ history and identity.
The Freedom Front Plus has also strongly opposed the latest proposals.
“The Freedom Front Plus’s policy on name changes is clear: We condemn all unnecessary, costly and politically driven name changes that divide communities, waste taxpayers’ money, and attempt to erase existing history and identity,” the party said.