AfriForum ready for legal battle against name change of Graaff-Reinet
AfriForum is ready for its court case against the name change of Graaff-Reinet. Its application had already been filed in May this year, but the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture’s legal team has only now indicated that the Minister and the South African Geographical Names Board intend to oppose the application.
AfriForum’s application followed in response to the announcement in the Government Gazette of 6 February 2026 by Gayton McKenzie, Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, that the town would henceforth be called Robert Sobukwe Town. The South African Geographical Names Council Act 118 of 1998 provides for objections to be lodged within 30 days of the publication of a name change. AfriForum therefore sent a legal letter to the Minister on 16 February 2026, objecting to the name change of Graaff-Reinet. After the letter remained unanswered, the application was filed with the High Court in Pretoria in May. Initially, no notice was received that the application would be opposed. However, after the case had been placed on the unopposed roll, this notice has just been received from the respondents.
According to Alana Bailey, AfriForum’s Head of Cultural Affairs, the civil rights organisation’s objection is based, among other things, on the fact that the Eastern Cape provincial policy regulating place names emphasises that the renaming of places of particular historical significance should only be considered in exceptional cases. With regards to Graaff-Reinet, with its legacy of 240 years, AfriForum is of the opinion that no such circumstances can be found. Contrary to the policy, the change also indicates that the necessary consideration has not been given to the preservation of the town’s historical and cultural heritage.
Additionally, a comprehensive study has found that the majority of the town’s residents are opposed to the name change. AfriForum also argues that the name change process is unconstitutional, as the department’s own process to review the relevant legislation currently seems to confirm.
“Name changes have become an easy way for politicians to create the false impression that they are acting forcefully, while in fact they are disrespecting the places whose names are being changed and the country’s cultural history. They are wasting taxpayers’ money that should rather be used to benefit the residents. We can no longer allow this, especially when a place name with the historical significance of Graaff-Reinet is at stake,” she adds.
Johann Harmse, Chairperson of AfriForum’s Graaff-Reinet branch, mentions that the residents are concerned about the incalculable damage to the cultural and historical content of the name, the tourism industry, the local economy and relations between communities that the name change could cause. “The majority of the residents have already indicated how strongly they are opposed to any change, and our voices deserve to be heard,” he says.
AfriForum’s legal team is now waiting for the respondents’ documents to be filed and a court date to be announced.
