ROBERT SOBUKWE TOWN – The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture has dismissed claims circulating on WhatsApp and social media that Minister Gayton McKenzie has reversed the renaming of Graaff-Reinet to Robert Sobukwe Town, confirming that the matter remains before the courts and no judgment has been handed down.
The ministry said the circulating message, which also claims that a court case concerning the renaming and other geographical name changes in the Eastern Cape has been “won”, is false.
“The Minister has not withdrawn, rescinded or amended any of the geographical name changes published in the Government Gazette on 6 February. No new decision has been taken. No such decision has been communicated to any person, political party or organisation,” the statement reads.
No court judgement handed down
The ministry confirmed that the review application brought by AfriForum in the High Court in Pretoria, has not been finalised.
“No court has ruled on the matter. The review application brought by AfriForum in the High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division, Pretoria, has not been finalised, and no judgment has been handed down. Any claim that a court case has been won is also untrue,” the statement reads.
The ministry said the matter was before the court and therefore sub judice, meaning it was subject to judicial consideration.
“The Minister made this clear in his most recent set of correspondence on the Robert Sobukwe Town matter. The Ministry will therefore not comment on the merits of the case. It will respect and abide by the outcome of the judicial process.”
Ministry addresses claims attributed to MP
The ministry also addressed the circulating message’s attribution of statements to Samantha Graham-Maré, MP.
“The Ministry cannot verify whether she made them. The Ministry confirms that it has issued no communication to her, or to anyone else, announcing a withdrawal.”
McKenzie rejected the claims, saying no decision had been made to reverse the geographical name changes.
“I have not withdrawn anything. There is no new decision, no court judgment and no victory for anyone to celebrate. The matter is before the court, and I will respect whatever the court decides, as every South African should. What I will not do is allow people to be misled by fake messages dressed up as news,” he said.
The ministry urged members of the public, the media and public representatives to verify information with the department before sharing it.
Official communication from the ministry and department is published on www.dsac.gov.za and on DSAC’s official social media platforms.
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