Check Out Reactions As Port Elizabeth Changes Name To Gqeberha
Check Out Reactions As Port Elizabeth Changes Name To Gqeberha. A few years ago, the Eastern Cape Geographical Names Committee recommended that Port Elizabeth should change its name. It was proposed that it be renamed Gqebera, the PE airport be named David Stuurman, and Uitenhage be renamed Kariega. Well the time has arrived for the much anticipated name changes.
The Minister of Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa, has approved new names for Port Elizabeth and the PE Airport. Port Elizabeth is now Gqeberha. This is the Xhosa word for the Baakens River as well as the Xhosa name for Walmer Township which is one of the oldest townships in PE .Port Elizabeth was established in 1820 as a British settlement around Fort Frederick and named by Sir Rufane Donkin, the acting governor of the Cape Colony, for his deceased wife Lady Elizabeth.
The PE International Airport will change to the Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport, after the Khoi chief who was born near the Gamtoos River in circa 1773. Stuurman was a political activist who fought against the Dutch and British colonial administration. He is the only person to have successfully escaped from Robben Island on two occasions.
Mthethwa also approved the geographical name change for Uitenhage, which, will be now known as Kariega. King William’s Town has changed to Qonce while East London airport is now the King Phalo Airport.
As expected the name changes brought different views across social media platforms. Some people have welcomed the name changes with open arms, while others argue that there is no point, if people’s lives will still remain the same. The majority of people are struggling with the pronunciation of Gqeberha. What’s your take on the name changes?
