How South African cities really get new names

Geographical name changes are usually a topic of hot debate in South Africa, with pronunciation and heritage usually dominating the discourse. 

Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has approved 21 geographical name changes, including the official renaming of East London to KuGompo City, and Graaff-Reinet was recently renamed to Robert Sobukwe Town.

The changes are expected to be gazetted in the coming weeks.

But what people might not realise is that changing a city or town’s name in South Africa is a carefully regulated process and is designed to balance public opinion, heritage, and administrative consistency.

At the centre of this process is the South African Geographical Names Council (SAGNC), which is a statutory body tasked with advising the government on the naming and renaming of places across the country.

What is the role of the SAGNC?

The SAGNC was established under the South African Geographical Names Council Act 118 of 1998, and its mandate is to standardise place names and ensure they reflect South Africa’s rich cultural and linguistic diversity. It advises the Minister of Arts and Culture, who has the final say in approving name changes.

What is the process of the name change?

Proposals can come from municipalities, provincial governments, community organisations, or individual citizens, but are usually submitted through a local municipality.

The proposal must include the current name and the proposed new name, a detailed motivation for the change—covering historical, cultural, or linguistic reasons—supporting documentation such as evidence of historical usage or community consultation, and a plan for public engagement.

Once a proposal is submitted, public participation is mandatory.

This means that notices are published in the media, and community meetings may be held. Citizens can submit support or objections, which the SAGNC must carefully consider before making a recommendation.

The council then reviews each proposal to ensure it aligns with historical accuracy, cultural relevance, and linguistic correctness.

Additionally, they assess potential confusion or duplication with existing names. Once satisfied, the SAGNC forwards its recommendation to the Minister of Arts and Culture.

The Minister has the authority to approve or reject the proposal. If approved, the new name is published in the Government Gazette, making it official for all legal, administrative, and mapping purposes.

Following gazetting, municipalities and government departments update road signs, official documents, maps, and databases to reflect the change. Businesses and the public gradually adopt the new name, which may take months or even years to become fully established.

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