Goodbye Graaff-Reinet: South African town’s name change stirs racial tensions
Minister’s decision to ditch town’s colonial-era identity and honour anti-apartheid activist divides residents
A South African town is divided over changing its name from the colonial-era Graaff-Reinet to Robert Sobukwe, after the anti-apartheid activist, in a debate that has inflamed racial tensions.
Petitions have been signed, rival marches held and a formal letter of complaint sent to the sports, arts and culture minister, Gayton McKenzie, who approved the name change on 6 February.
Source: Theguardian.com
Original source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/29/graaff-reinet-robert-sobukwe-south-african-town-name-change-stirs-racial-tensions
