South African City Renamed Makanda
By Ashanee Kottage
Grahamstown, a city in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, was renamed to Makhanda on October 3. Since the end of apartheid, dozens of settlements, streets, and even an airport have changed their names, a phenomenon with ties to the country’s colonial past.
As reported by IOL, a South African online newspaper, Grahamstown was originally named for notorious Lieutenant Colonel John Graham, who is remembered for his cruelty towards Xhosa natives during the Frontier Wars. Graham is infamous for instilling fear in those he conquered by burning homes, crops, and livestock, and butchering women and children in an effort towards mass extermination. Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa has said that "the name of John Graham is one that evokes unimaginable pain.”
In contrast to Graham’s legacy, Makhanda was a doctor, prophet, philosopher, and warrior whose heroics in the Frontier Wars included an attack on a British garrison at the locality. He was one of the first black political leaders to be imprisoned on Robben Island. Mthethwa remarked that ”the renaming of this town will ensure that Makhanda ka Nxele's memory is immortalised, and rightfully so.”
According to South African Geographical Names Council Chairperson (SAGNC) Johnny Mohlala, “Coming out of our [apartheid] history, part of the transition towards social cohesion requires there must be some form of reparation...One route to restore the dignity…is through name changing. It’s a contribution towards the transformation of the South African heritage landscape.”
The change wasn’t without opposition. Mthethwa revealed that he received more than 300 letters objecting to the name change, many citing the high cost and importance of remembering history. Several opponents reasoned that an article published in the Government Gazette in June declaring the name change “was defective because it did not state the fact that the public has one month to object or complain to the minister [by] his June 29 [decision date].” According to the Citizen, Mthethwa assured the public that all letters would be read and responded to and that each objection would be referred to the SAGNC for advice in order to make an informed decision on the matter.
After the Grahamstown meeting, Mohlala confirmed that SAGNC members were reviewing all documents, including oppositional documents, to ensure that a fair decision was reached. Ultimately, Mohala stated that “[the SAGNC] came to the conclusion that the name must change.” Mohlala acknowledged the strong feelings South Africans have about place names. “The town’s rich history is one that will remain there in places available to students of history and researchers – museums and libraries,” he said. Mthethwa didn’t shy away from opposition either, saying “It is heartening to know that South Africans understand that ours is a participatory democracy where they can raise objections and their voices can be heard.”