GRAAFF-REINET – Civil rights organisation AfriForum has indicated that it is ready for its court challenge against the name change of Graaff-Reinet, after the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture’s legal team indicated that Minister Gayton McKenzie and the South African Geographical Names Board intend to oppose the application.
According to a statement released by AfriForum on 20 July, its application had already been filed in May after its legal letter objecting to the name change remained unanswered.
The statement said the application follows the announcement in the Government Gazette on 6 February by McKenzie that Graaff-Reinet would henceforth be called Robert Sobukwe Town.
Furthermore, it stated that, in terms of the South African Geographical Names Council Act 118 of 1998, objections to a proposed name change must be lodged within 30 days of the publication of the change.
AfriForum said it submitted a legal letter to McKenzie on 16 February objecting to the name change.
After receiving no response, the organisation filed its application with the High Court in Pretoria in May.
According to AfriForum’s head of cultural affairs, Alana Bailey, the organisation’s objection is based, among other issues, on the Eastern Cape provincial policy regulating place names, which states that the renaming of places of historical significance should only be considered in exceptional cases.
Bailey said AfriForum believes no such circumstances exist in the case of Graaff-Reinet, which has a legacy spanning 240 years.
She said the organisation believes the name change does not adequately consider the preservation of the town’s historical and cultural heritage.
AfriForum said a comprehensive study had also found that the majority of residents are opposed to the name change.
The organisation further argues that the name change process is unconstitutional, saying the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture’s own process to review the relevant legislation appears to support this view.
“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,” Bailey said.
Johann Harmse, chairperson of AfriForum’s Graaff-Reinet branch, said residents are concerned about the potential impact of the name change on the town’s cultural and historical identity, tourism industry, local economy and relations between communities.
“The majority of residents have already indicated how strongly they are opposed to any change, and our voices deserve to be heard,” said Harmse.
AfriForum said its legal team is now awaiting the respondents’ documents to be filed and for a court date to be announced.
Stacey-Lee Khojane, spokesperson for the Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture, confirmed that the department is a party to legal proceedings currently before the High Court.
“As the matter remains before the court for determination, it would be inappropriate for the department to comment on the merits of the case, the evidence, or its legal strategy outside the judicial process,” Khojane said.
She said the department would present its case through the appropriate legal processes and that court proceedings are matters of public record.
“The Department respects the independence of the judiciary and will refrain from making any further public comment while the matter remains pending before the court,” said Khojane.
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