Name change of a historic South African town challenged in court

Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, said that Graaff-Reinet’s name change to Robert Sobukwe Town is getting challenged in court.

Graaff-Reinet, located in a horseshoe bend of the Sundays River in the Great Karoo, is the fourth-oldest town in South Africa and the oldest in the Eastern Cape.

Its history dates back to 1786 and honours Cornelis Jacob van de Graaff, a Dutch governor of the Cape Colony under the VOC, and his wife, Cornelia Reynet.

In 1795, citizens rid themselves of VOC taxes and established the short-lived Republic of Graaff-Reinet.

In the 1830s, Graaff-Reinet was the point of departure for the Great Trek, a historic event in Afrikaner culture.

Prominent Voortrekker leaders, including Andries Pretorius, Gerrit Maritz, and Hendrik Potgieter, lived and operated out of the Graaff-Reinet district.

By the mid-19th century, the region had become one of the world’s premier wool- and mohair-producing centres.

One of South Africa’s most famous industrialists and philanthropists, Anton Rupert, was born in Graaff-Reinet in 1916.

He studied in Pretoria and ultimately moved to Stellenbosch. However, despite leaving Graaff-Reinet, he did a tremendous amount to uplift the town where he grew up.

Rupert was a pioneer in productive conservation, believing that old buildings should be restored and put to practical use.

He saved the 1821 Dutch Reformed Mission Church from demolition and converted it into an art museum, naming it after his mother.

He also played a pivotal role in the creation of the Karoo Nature Reserve, which eventually became the Camdeboo National Park.

One of the family’s most famous projects is the Drostdy Hotel. They purchased the historic building in the 1970s and restored it into a world-class hotel.

Graaff-Reinet name chance challenged

Graaff-Reinet made headlines after the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture changed its name to Robert Sobukwe Town on 6 February 2026.

This name change happened despite the Graaff-Reinet opposing it from the outset. This opposition escalated after McKenzie’s announcement.

On Saturday, 28 February 2026, residents took to the streets to voice their unhappiness with the name change.

Community leader Laughton Hoffman said they are tired of the government using taxpayers’ money for what it wants, such as the name change.

Derek Light, a Graaff-Reinet resident and attorney at Derek Light Attorneys, is challenging the name change through a legal process.

Light argued that the government gazette notice was defective because it did not inform the public that they had 30 days to object and where to object.

He added that apart from the administrative process being flawed, the name change also has no merit.

He added that the community’s wishes have not been taken into account, and naming the town after a divisive figure like Robert Sobukwe will not bring about reconciliation.

AfriForum is also challenging the name change, arguing that it is not in line with the law, as it is not an exceptional case.

The Eastern Cape provincial policy on place names states that renaming places of particular historical significance should be considered only in exceptional cases.

“With regard to Graaff-Reinet, with its 240-year legacy, AfriForum is of the opinion that no such circumstances can be found,” it said.

“Contrary to the policy, the change also indicates that the necessary consideration for preserving the town’s historical and cultural heritage has not been given.”

AfriForum added that a study found that the majority of Graaff-Reinet residents oppose the name change to Robert Sobukwe Town.

“The name change process is unconstitutional, as the department’s own process for reviewing the relevant legislation currently appears to confirm,” it said.

Gayton McKenzie comments on the name change

McKenzie confirmed that the name change is being challenged in court and provided background on it.

He provided this information in response to the question from Athol Trollip, a member of the National Assembly.

Trollip asked McKenzie about the processes followed for the name change and whether all parties were afforded a reasonable opportunity to make representations.

He also asked whether any objections or appeals were received in respect of the name change from Graaff-Reinet to Robert Sobukwe Town.

McKenzie responded, saying the application served before the South African Geographical Names Council.

“Following the council’s recommendation, I initially declined to approve the proposed name change,” he said.

“I declined on the basis that the application was not supported by sufficient information and referred it back to the council.”

McKenzie added that the matter is now the subject of pending review proceedings in the High Court.

“On the advice of Legal Services, the Department will address the substantive issues concerning the process in those proceedings,” he said.

The Minister added that he does not consider it appropriate to canvass the merits of the name change process in a reply to Trollip’s question.

“The conduct of the provincial process forms part of the subject matter of the pending review proceedings and will be addressed in those proceedings,” he said.

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Graaff-Reinet photos

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