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[FILE] Court gavel
Lobby group AfriForum has filed a High Court application to reverse the renaming of Graaff-Reinet to Robert Sobukwe Town, citing an unlawful process.
Afriforum says the 240-year-old Eastern Cape town holds significant cultural and historical value for residents.
Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie maintains that due process was followed, as his department faces thousands of objections to recent name changes.
[LISTEN] AfriForum’s Head of Cultural Affairs, Alana Bailey says Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie prematurely announced the renaming of Graaff-Reinet to Robert Sobukwe Town without having followed proper processeshttps://t.co/kmajPwtIZT#SABCNews #FirstTakeSA pic.twitter.com/DNk98aYzQV
— SABC News Radio (@SABCNews_Radio) May 29, 2026
Alana Bailey, AfriForum’s Head of Cultural Affairs, says they are specifically concerned about the Section 23 Act, which specifies that the minister can announce a name change.
“However, after the name change has been announced and has been established in the government gazette, objections may then be submitted, and the same person who decided, in other words, the minister, can then review the decision. So, we feel that this is not in line with the constitution, where objections should be dealt with, and should be finalised before such an announcement is made.”
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