The Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture has noted a message circulating on WhatsApp and social media. It claims Minister Gayton McKenzie has withdrawn or rescinded the gazetted renaming of Graaff-Reinet to Robert Sobukwe Town, along with other geographical name changes in the Eastern Cape, and that a court case on the matter has been “won”.
These claims are false.
The Minister has not withdrawn, rescinded or amended any of the geographical name changes published in the Government Gazette on 6 February 2026. No new decision has been taken. No such decision has been communicated to any person, political party or organisation.
No court has ruled on the matter. The review application brought by AfriForum in the High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division, Pretoria, has not been finalised, and no judgment has been handed down. Any claim that a court case has been won is also untrue.
Because the matter is before the court, it is sub judice. The Minister made this clear in his most recent set of correspondence on the Robert Sobukwe Town matter. The Ministry will therefore not comment on the merits of the case. It will respect and abide by the outcome of the judicial process.
The circulating message attributes statements to Ms Samantha Graham-Maré MP. The Ministry cannot verify whether she made them. The Ministry confirms that it has issued no communication to her, or to anyone else, announcing a withdrawal.
Minister McKenzie said: “I have not withdrawn anything. There is no new decision, no court judgment and no victory for anyone to celebrate. The matter is before the court, and I will respect whatever the court decides, as every South African should. What I will not do is allow people to be misled by fake messages dressed up as news.”
The Ministry urges members of the public, the media and public representatives to verify information with the Department before sharing it. Official communication from the Ministry and the Department is published on www.dsac.gov.za and on DSAC’s official social media platforms.
For media enquiries:
Ms Stacey-Lee Khojane
Spokesperson: Office of the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture
E-mail: StaceyK@dsac.gov.za
Cell: +27 77 608 7579
Ms Zimasa Velaphi
Head of Communication and Marketing: Department of Sport, Arts and Culture
E-mail: ZimasaV@dsac.gov.za
Cell: +27 72 172 8925
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