South Africa continues to decolonize: Graaff-Reinet now named Robert Sobukwe

The most dominant feature of South Africa since the mid-2000’s has been the relentless drive to transform (decolonize) everything. This is visible in many ways, most notably in the renaming of towns, roads, buildings, and institutions. Renaming symbolizes the death of the old order and the birth of a new system.

In the South African context, decolonization is the ongoing process of removing all traces linked to the so-called “colonizers” generally understood as those of Western descent or those who uphold Western values. It is, in essence, the scrubbing away of all “whiteness” from the land we call South Africa. This is obviously very misguided and very dangerous.

When it comes to renaming, this process began in the mid-2000s with Polokwane replacing Pietersburg in 2005, followed by other changes including Mokopane (formerly Potgietersrus) and Modimolle (formerly Nylstroom).

In 2018, Grahamstown was renamed Makhanda and then in 2021 Port Elizabeth became Gqeberha, Uitenhage was renamed Kariega and King William’s Town changed to Qonce.

In a recent drive to transform South Africa, the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture has formally approved 21 geographic name changes, including the renaming of East London and Graaff-Reinet. East London will now be known as KuGompo City, following consultations held in 2025.

Graaff-Reinet, established in 1786 and regarded as South Africa’s fourth-oldest town, has been renamed Robert Sobukwe, after a founding member of the Pan Africanist Congress. Earlier efforts to implement this change faced community opposition and were not recommended by the national Names Council in 2024, reportedly due to insufficient supporting information.

This whole process makes me wonder when Cape Town will be renamed, and South Africa itself. No doubt, we are witnessing the death of South Africa before our very eyes. What are minority communities to do in such an environment? Forming strong in-group community networks, or “lagers,” is the wiser path forward. This process will continue until everything considered Western is gone. But this does not have to be the end, we must stand and confront it head-on with strong opposition. However, this can only happen through organized community action. We have the moral wind in our sails.