ALL the major cities that have changed names in South Africa

We thought it would be useful to publish a list of all the cities that have changed names in South Africa in recent years. This is just so you don’t find yourself travelling to your holiday destination believing you’re hopelessly lost, when it’s simply a settlement that’s changed names in South Africa.

TRENDING: Important INFO: 2024 SASSA Old-Age Pension Grant increases

If you’re anything like us, you probably find all the cities that have changed names in South Africa quite unnerving. We fully appreciate the need to move on from the past and leave apartheid relicts behind, but it can be confusing knowing exactly where you are these days, due to name changes of towns and cities.

CHANGED NAMES IN SOUTH AFRICA

According to Business Tech, the majority of cities with changed names in South Africa have been concentrated in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. It’s understood that the Department of Sport, Art and Culture has overseen thousands of name changes since 1994.

ALSO READ: Gauteng matric exams: 45 pupils caught with cheat notes

Keep in mind that it’s not just towns and cities that have changed names in South Africa but also airports, street names, rivers, bridges, national parks and many more geographical locations. How this occurs is through the South African Geographical Names Council, which handles the applications and public consultation on proposed name changes.

SLOW TRANSFORMATION

If you think the number of cities that have changed names in South Africa is excessive … think again. Because earlier in the year, Minister Zizi Kodwa said the Department wishes to accelerate name changes in the country, as it considers transformation to have been ‘very slow’. The Minister also notes that name changes in South Africa cannot be initiated by the department or governments, it must be driven by local communities.

ALSO READ: Important INFO on expiring SASSA cards for 2024

Any individual South African citizen can propose a name change in terms of the South African Geographical Council Act, Act No 118 of 1998. The Department considers the application together with relevant accompanying details, including the motivation for the name change. In the case of a public figure, written permission is needed from the family after whom the geographical feature will be named.

MAJOR CITY NAME CHANGES IN SOUTH AFRICA

Having said all that, here’s a list of all the major cities that have changed names in South Africa in recent years. There are too many to list all of them, as many were simple spelling alterations. Nevertheless, keep it handy this festive season in case you think you’re lost:

EASTERN CAPE

• Butterworth → Gcuwa (2004)
• Umtata → Mthatha (2004)
• Aliwal North → Maletswai (2015)
• Elliot → Khowa (2016)
• Lady Frere → Cacadu (2016)
• Mount Frere → KwaBhaca (2016)
• Queenstown → Komani (2016)
• Alice → Dikeni (2016)
• Grahamstown → Makhanda (2018)
• Port Elizabeth → Gqeberha (2021)
• Uitenhage → Kariega (2021)
• King William’s Town → Qonce (2021)
• Maclear → Nqanqarhu (2021)
• Berlin → Ntabozuko (2021)
• Somerset East → KwaNojoli (2023)
• Fort Beaufort → KwaMaqoma (2023)

ALSO READ: Dollar started steady on Monday with US inflation Fed meeting looming

KWAZULU-NATAL

• Stanger → KwaDukuza (2006)
• Amanzimtoti → aManzimtoti (2010)
• Tongaat → oThongathi (2010)
• Umdloti → eMdloti (2010)
• Umhlanga Rocks → uMhlanga Rocks (2010)
• Umkomaas → eMkhomazi (2010)
• Loskop → eMangweni (2011)
• Doornhoek → eMahhukwini (2016)
• Drifontein → eMhlwaneni (2016)
• Rooderpoort → eZikhonkwaneni (2016)
• Skoeman → KwaNtababomvu (2016)
• Watershed → eNtantane (2016)

FREE STATE

• Brandfort → Winnie Mandela (2021)

GAUTENG

• Verwoerdburg → Centurion (1994)
• Rietvlei → Zoo Manor (2009)
• Kyalami → Khayalami (2016)

LIMPOPO

• Naboomspruit → Mookgophong (2006)
• Warmbad/Warmbaths → Bela-Bela (2002)
• Ellisras → Lephalale (2002)
• Louis Trichardt → Makhado (2003)
• Nylstroom → Modimolle (2002)
• Duiwelskloof → Modjadjiskloof (2004)
• Dendron → Mogwadi
• Potgietersrus → Mokopane (2003)
• Messina → Musina (2003)
• Pietersburg → Polokwane (2005)
• Vaalwater → Mabatlane (2006)

ALSO READ: Important INFO on how to appeal a declined SASSA application

MPUMALANGA

• Buffelspruit → Mhlambanyatsi (2003)
• De Putten → Seabe (2003)
• Jeppe’s Reef → Magogeni (2003)
• Skilpadfontein → Marapyane (2003)
• Fig Tree → Kahhoyi (2005)
• Greenside → Mmaduma (2005)
• Hectorspruit → Emjejane (2005)
• Middelkop → Lefiswane (2005)
• Kaffirskraal → Ezimbuthumeni (2006)
• Kaffirskraalkopie → eNdlulamithini (2006)
• Malelane → Malalane (2006)
• Witbank → eMalahleni (2006)
• Lydenburg → Mashishing (2006)
• Kameelrivier A → Madubaduba (2006)
• Klipfontein → eNgwenyameni (2006)
• Zandspruit → Mmahlabane (2006)
• Allendal → Landela (2007)
• Alicecot → Metsi (2007)
• Angincourt → Matsavana (2007)Cork → Khokhamoya (2007)
• Cunningmore → Tiyimeleni (2007)
• Dingledayle → Chochocho (2007)
• Dwarsloop → Mafemani (2007)
• Graigburn → Motlamogatsane (2007)
• Hurrinton → Hundzukani (2007)
• Kildare → Malamule (2007)
• London → Thabakgolo (2007)
• Madras → Mahukule (2007)
• Mavilijan → Ngwaritšane (2007)
• Newington → Manyakatana (2007)
• Oakley → Legokgwe (2007)
• Okkernooiboom → Xikhusese (2007)
• Rolle → Godide (2007)
• Ronaldsey → Fayini (2007)
• Somerset → Mahlobyanini (2007)
• Wales → Mathoshe (2007)
• Alexandria → Hlanganani (2009)
• Badplaas (2009) → eManzana (2009)
• Mooiplaas → Ebuhleni (2009)
• Nootgedacht → eMpumelelweni (2009)
• Pankop → Masobye (2009)
• Serville → Zakhiya (2009)
• Steynsdorp → eMlondozi (2009)
• Toitskraal → Redutše (2009)
• Tweefontein → Somaroboro (2009)
• Vaschfontein → Ga-Phamohlaka (2009)
• Vlaklaagte No. 1 → Mandlethu (2009)
• Woltwekraal → Borolo (2009)
• Tweefontein → Phumula (2009)[27]
• Steynsdorp → eMlondozi (2009)[59]
• Belfast → eMakhazeni (2009) [60]
• Machadodorp → eNtokozweni (2009)
• Nelspruit → Mbombela (2009)
• Waterval Boven → Emgwenya (2009)
• Piet Retief → eMkhondo (2010)
• Belvedere → Phophonyane (2011)
• Gemsbokspruit → Mzimuhle (2015)
• Kwaggafontein → Ekukhanyeni (2015)
• kwaggafontein → Mthombomuhle (2015)
• Tweefontein → Sesakhile (2016)
• Amsterdam → eMvelo (2019)[63]
• Inswepe → Insephe (2019)
• Driehoek → Uhlelo (2021)
• Donkerhoek → Entababusuku (2021)

WESTERN CAPE

• Schotschekloof → Bo-Kaap (2016)
• Teslaarsdal → Tesselaarsdal (2016)
• Zonnebloem → District Six (2019)

NEXT READ: Important INFO: Understanding your SASSA SRD grant status

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ARTICLES FROM RAY LEATHERN