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More Eastern Cape name changes? East London up next

East London, Aberdeen, and Colchester in the Eastern Cape province are among the towns next up for name changes according to Sibulele Ngongo, the Eastern Cape MEC for Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture.

East London not the only city on the list

According to Business Tech, Ngongo stated in her policy address that her department is moving ahead with further name changes in the Eastern Cape province. The government is considering changing the names of East London, Aberdeen, and Colchester, among others.

The Eastern Cape has seen a number of name changes over the last few years, which included changing Port Elizabeth to Gqeberha.

Markedly, it is not the first time the government is considering a name change for East London. Getaway magazine reported that, in 2020, the government rejected an application to change East London’s name because the proposed name conflicted with an existing settlement with the same name.

SAGNC currently looking at 66 applications for name changes

Currently, the South African Geographic Names Council (SAGNC) is reviewing a total of 66 renaming applications across the country. Since its establishment in 1998, it has renamed 1 505 geographical features across South Africa. These included towns, post offices, mountains, and rivers.

The SAGNC is comprised of experts in place names, official languages, and cultural history, as well as one representative from each province and representatives from the Chief Directorate of Survey and Mapping, the SA Post Office, and the Pan South African Language Board.

Eastern Cape cities that have undergone name changes

Several South African cities have already undergone name changes in recent years.

In the Eastern Cape alone, the following are the most recent name changes:

  • Port Elizabeth’s name changed to Gqeberha
  • Queenstown became Komani
  • Uitenhage is now Kariega
  • Fort Beaufort’s name changed to Kwa-Maqoma
  • Somerset East is now KwaNojoli

The government also changed the names of two airports in the Eastern Cape. Port Elizabeth airport is now Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport. East London airport is now King Phalo Airport.

Costs involved

Changing a city’s name is a costly endeavour – not only for the government but also for individuals. The government needs to pay to change road signs, which could include many signs for hundreds of kilometres.

Individuals, however, are also impacted, especially those who run businesses. Businesses have to update systems, stationery, business cards, etc.  

Do you think changing the names of places in South Africa is necessary?
Is the cost involved worth it?

Let us know by clicking on the comment tab below this article.
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