A historic town’s renaming after anti-apartheid icon Robert Sobukwe sparks protests and legal threats, exposing deep racial and historical divisions in South Africa.
GRAFF-REINET: A government decree to rename this historic town after anti-apartheid icon Robert Sobukwe has ignited fierce opposition and protests. The move has exposed deep fractures within the community of 25,000 as South Africa grapples with its colonial and apartheid past.
The town, established in 1786 and named after a Dutch colonial governor, is the fourth oldest in the country. It is a proud landmark for the Afrikaner community and a significant tourism draw, with opponents arguing the change is divisive and erases heritage.
Activist Laughton Hoffman of the Hands Off Graaff-Reinet movement claims the renaming is taking the community backwards. He has helped deliver around 22,000 objection forms to the government, citing strong local opposition.
Lawyer Derek Light, preparing a legal challenge, said a 2024 survey showed nearly 84% of residents did not want the name changed. He accused the authorities of dividing a previously healthy community and cited inflammatory rhetoric from some supporters of the change.
The majority of residents identify as “coloured”, people of mixed ancestry, with some like Hoffman feeling marginalised by post-apartheid policies. They view the renaming as an imposition that overlooks their own historical connection to the town.
For the family of Robert Sobukwe, the change is a long-overdue recognition. His grandson, Mangaliso Tsepo Sobukwe, said he is not surprised by opposition from segments unwilling to embrace change. Sobukwe led pivotal protests before the 1960 Sharpeville Massacre.
Pan Africanist Congress deputy president Jaki Seroke said the renaming aims to build a nation, not cause malice. He lamented that a liberation hero from the area is being ignored by his own community, reflecting lingering apartheid-era divisions.
The renaming is part of a broader national effort, with around 1,500 geographical name-changes since 1994. A government document states these target names that “still reflect colonial and apartheid legacies”, a process that continues to stir profound debate.
