The Democratic Alliance (DA) has submitted more than 38 000 individual objections to Gayton McKenzie, the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, regarding the proposed name changes of five towns in the Eastern Cape.
The name changes of Graaff-Reinet to Robert Sobukwe, Aberdeen to Xamdeboo, Adendorp to Bishop Limba (all in the Dr Beyers Naude Municipality), East London to KuGompo City (Buffalo City Municipality) and Barkly East to Ekhephini (Senqu Municipality) were signed off by Minister McKenzie and gazetted on 6 February 2026.
This happened even though there was no proper consultation with residents and the Minister, just a year and a half ago, telling the media he would not approve the name change for Graaff-Reinet.
A formal objection phase commenced following the gazetting, and the DA made objection letters available for residents to complete, alongside online objection forms.
Yesterday, a total of 38 544 completed objections were submitted to the Minister and the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture. Graaff-Reinet accounted for 21 918 objections, followed by East London (8628), Aberdeen (3688), Adendorp (2814) and Barkly East (1496).
The objections were submitted within the prescribed one-month objection period by Samantha Graham-Maré MP (DA Dr Beyers Naude Constituency Leader), Marina van Zyl MP (DA New Horizon Constituency Leader), and myself in my capacity as DA Buffalo City Constituency Leader. The Minister’s office has confirmed receipt of the submissions regarding Graaff-Reinet, Aberdeen and Adendorp.
In terms of the South African Geographical Names Council Act, the Minister is now required to respond to every complaint or objection individually, outlining his decision and the reasons for it.
This massive volume of objections is the result of a whole of society approach, with communities, businesses and many other stakeholders across these towns standing together against unwanted name changes approved without proper consultation.
The DA supports redress and reconciliation. But forced, poorly consulted name changes do not unite people.
The Eastern Cape has the highest unemployment rate in the country, and thousands live below the breadline in abject poverty, yet the ANC government is willing to spend millions on changing names.
We are focused on changing lives, not names, by bringing better services, jobs and safety to our municipalities.
The DA is focused on getting the Eastern Cape working.