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The Eastern Cape Geographical Names Committee defended its decision to approve the name Gqeberha for Port Elizabeth, despite the fact that, at the time of the proposal, there was a Gqeberha High School in the same city.
The committee previously said the proposed name for East London - Gompo, was rejected because there is a township in East London named Gompo. There’s more to this story Subscribe to News24 and get access to our
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Luvuyo Mehlwana
Nqaba Bhanga has written to Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa to request a reversal with regard to Port Elizabeth changing to Gqeberha.
The Nelson Mandela Bay mayor believes the new name doesn t have meaning.
More than 48 000 people have signed an online petition for Cyril Ramaphosa to reverse the gazetted new name of the coastal Eastern Cape city.
Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Nqaba Bhanga has written to Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa to request that he reverse the new name of Gqeberha back to Port Elizabeth - because the new name doesn t have meaning.
This was confirmed by Bhanga s spokesperson, Morne Steyn, on Monday.
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East London will not be renamed Ku Gompo because that proposed name has already been rejected by the South African Geographical Names Council.
The council advises Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa on new geographical names as well as the changing of existing names.
The reason for rejecting the new name is because there is a township in East London which bears a similar name.
East London will not be renamed Ku Gompo.
That proposed name for the Eastern Cape coastal town was thrown out by the South African Geographical Names Council.
The council advises Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa on new geographical names as well as the changing of existing names.