Protestors took to the streets recently in Robert Sobukwe Town, formerly known as Graaf-Reinet, after residents were divided over sport, arts and culture minister Gayton McKenzie’s decision earlier this year to approve the name change
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Sport, arts, and culture minister Gayton McKenzie has been hauled to court to undo his renaming of Graaff-Reinet to Robert Sobukwe Town.
AfriForum said it approached the Pretoria High Court because the 240-year-old Eastern Cape town has a unique history, especially for Afrikaners.
It said the minister's new name completely airbrushes that past.
The name change took place in February this year when McKenzie published a notice in the Government Gazette.
The notice approved 21 geographical name changes in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.
Under these changes, Graaff-Reinet became Robert Sobukwe Town and East London was renamed KuGompo.
Aberdeen was changed to Xamdeboo, Adendorp to KwaMseki Bishop Limba and Nieu-Bethesda to Kwa Noheleni.
The civil rights group's Alana Bailey said after the name change had been announced, they approached McKenzie with a lawyer’s letter to ask that the decision be reviewed.
"After almost four months, no response has been received to this letter," Bailey said.
"AfriForum is therefore left with no alternative but to approach the court on behalf of the residents and all for whom the name Graaff-Reinet is of special cultural and historical significance."
Bailey added: “Surveys conducted have found that most residents of the town are opposed to the name change.
"Since it had been announced by the minister, several petitions and a protest action against the name change have also been widely supported.
"Residents associate the name of the town with their history and are proud of it."
McKenzie has previously defended the name changes, insisting that proper legal channels and due process were followed.
Meanwhile, his department has received tens of thousands of objections, estimated at 38,000, to the approved name changes.
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