Dust has barely settled over the proposed renaming of the world-renowned Kruger National Park when a web map service was found displaying a part of the national park as “Skukuza National Park”.
Controversy erupted last month when the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature adopted a motion to rename the park, sparking fierce debate over legal authority and historical accuracy.
The proposed name change emerged during Heritage Month when Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) representatives tabled a motion in the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature.
On 23 September, the day before Heritage Day, the legislature adopted the EFF’s motion to rename Kruger National Park as “Skukuza National Park” after receiving backing from the African National Congress (ANC) and uMkhonto weSizwe (MK).
The motion was introduced without notice as part of Heritage Day reflections.
“How do we celebrate our heritage as South Africans when we still have our beautiful national parks named after the architect of apartheid Paul Kruger?” asked EFF representative Rhulani Qhibi.
The motion was adopted within minutes of Qhibi taking the microphone, also proposing to rename Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport to David “DD” Mabuza International Airport and Jan van Riebeeck Stadium to Veli Mahlangu Stadium.
Legal process bypassed, authority questioned
However, any geographical name change in South Africa requires a comprehensive national process involving public consultation. Provincial geographical names committees must forward proposals to the South African Geographical Names Council (SAGNC), with final ministerial approval required.
This is applicable to the renaming of any geographic location, such as a town, city, street, or landmark, which must be formally approved and published as such in the Government Gazette after public consultation.
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The process becomes more complex as Kruger National Park spans two provinces – Mpumalanga and Limpopo – raising questions about the Mpumalanga Legislature’s unilateral action.
According to Section 20 of the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act 57 of 2003, only the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment holds legal authority to assign or amend South African National Park names.
The proposed “Skukuza” name has drawn criticism for its historical associations. The name was reportedly a Tsonga nickname for James Stevenson-Hamilton, the park’s first warden, who expelled poachers, criminals, and black communities during the park’s early years.
Collen Sedibe, EFF leader in Mpumalanga, later acknowledged concerns, stating they are “still engaging with land claimants at Kruger National Park as Skukuza is not the right name as Stevenson-Hamilton was the man who kicked them out of the park.”
Web map service error corrected
Last week, civil rights organisation AfriForum announced it would take action to correct the misleading Google Maps entry showing “Skukuza National Park.”
“This creates the false impression that the park has been renamed,” said Marais de Vaal, the organisation’s environmental affairs adviser.
AfriForum reported the error to Google Maps, requesting removal of the incorrect entry, whilst asking the minister to issue a public statement clarifying that no new name has been approved.
By Wednesday, 22 October, the misleading information appeared to have been rectified. The search now correctly shows Skukuza Rest Camp – the park’s largest camp and administrative headquarters – rather than “Skukuza National Park.”
Legal concerns cited, historical accuracy disputed
Earlier in September, DA national spokesperson Willie Aucamp dismissed the legislature’s motion as “nothing more than political posturing” with no legally binding effect.
“No provincial legislature can start such a process,” Aucamp stated, emphasising the motion carries “no legal force or effect.”
He warned that operational costs for such changes would cost governments millions of rands, covering everything from road signs to rebranding, maps, websites, uniforms, and vehicles.
“The DA believes that retrospective name changes waste millions and do not build unity in South Africa,” Aucamp said.
AfriForum has challenged the EFF’s characterisation of Paul Kruger as the “architect of apartheid.”
“The EFF’s ignorance of Kruger National Park’s history and their wilful distortion of facts are clear,” said de Vaal. “Kruger was in no way involved in establishing apartheid, a system implemented more than four decades after his death in 1904.”
The organisation emphasised Kruger’s contribution to establishing the country’s most important national park, calling the EFF’s claims “opportunistic and blatantly spreading lies.”
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