Port Elizabeth has a new name and is now known as Gqeberha.
The government has renamed the city of close to a million inhabitants Gqeberha in a series of name changes of towns and airports.
Affectionately known as “The Windy City”, PE and Die Baai, it had also previously been called Nelson Mandela Bay.
It will now officially carry the name of Gqeberha following an approval and gazetting of the name by the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa, on Tuesday.
Gqeberha 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.
In 1820, the rising seaport of Algoa Bay was named "Port Elizabeth" in memory of Elizabeth Frances née Markham, the late wife of Rufane Shaw Donkin, acting Governor of the Cape Colony.
The Eastern Cape province will see a number of name changes of cities and places.
Port Elizabeth Airport will now be referred to as the Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport, while Uitenhage will now be called Kariega.
Stuurman, born in 1773, was a Khoi chief and political activist who fought against Dutch and British colonial rule.
East London Airport is to be called King Phalo Airport, and the town of Berlin will now be referred to as Ntabozuko.
MaClear Town has been renamed Nqanqarhu and King William’s Town will be called Qonce.
Hundreds of residents have objected to the name changes while the DA slammed the changes, saying this would not improve the lives of citizens, nor would it increase tourism, boost investment, or create employment.
It also criticized government for spending millions on name changes during the pandemic.
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