The Mngqesha Royal House and its 42 traditional communities from around the Eastern Cape have applied to change East London Airport’s name to King Sandile Airport.
This is among several other proposed name changes in an application the royal house’s executive committee resubmitted to the Eastern Cape provincial geographical names committee.
They were advised by the naming committee to include a motivational letter with their application.
AmaRharhabe Kingdom’s spokesman Zolile Burns-Ncamashe said the name change was “imperative” for transformation.
“The process of renaming important and model areas of every part of South Africa is part of the process of geographic colonial distortions.
“All the places within the kingdom need to reflect a true historical picture.”
Burns-Ncamashe told the Daily Dispatch that Alice, King William’s Town and Grahamstown were among the names that needed to be changed.
Attempts to change the name of Grahamstown raised a storm of sustained protest there in recent years.
Eastern Cape provincial geographical names committee secretary Kenneth Msengana confirmed receiving the application for East London Airport to become King Sandile Airport.
Among other applications received, he said, was the Nqandu Kingdom’s petition to rename the airport King Hintsa Airport last year.
The application had initially been invalid as it was submitted incomplete, but that was later fixed.
The chairman of the board, Samkelo Janda, said the Eastern Cape had been colonised with names and misinterpretations.
“Look at Gonubie, it is a meaningless name that was derived from the Xhosa word qunube, which means wild berries, because the area was popular for its wild berries, but it has since lost its meaning,” he said.
“Names need to have a cognitive meaning and strong motive that tell a story about an area that its residents can recognise.”
Only the Arts and Culture Minister – at the moment Nathi Mthethwa – can approve the name changes. — mbalit@dispatch.co.za
Royal house in bid to rename city airport
This is among several other proposed name changes in an application the royal house’s executive committee resubmitted to the Eastern Cape provincial geographical names committee.
They were advised by the naming committee to include a motivational letter with their application.
AmaRharhabe Kingdom’s spokesman Zolile Burns-Ncamashe said the name change was “imperative” for transformation.
“The process of renaming important and model areas of every part of South Africa is part of the process of geographic colonial distortions.
“All the places within the kingdom need to reflect a true historical picture.”
Burns-Ncamashe told the Daily Dispatch that Alice, King William’s Town and Grahamstown were among the names that needed to be changed.
Attempts to change the name of Grahamstown raised a storm of sustained protest there in recent years.
Eastern Cape provincial geographical names committee secretary Kenneth Msengana confirmed receiving the application for East London Airport to become King Sandile Airport.
Among other applications received, he said, was the Nqandu Kingdom’s petition to rename the airport King Hintsa Airport last year.
The application had initially been invalid as it was submitted incomplete, but that was later fixed.
The chairman of the board, Samkelo Janda, said the Eastern Cape had been colonised with names and misinterpretations.
“Look at Gonubie, it is a meaningless name that was derived from the Xhosa word qunube, which means wild berries, because the area was popular for its wild berries, but it has since lost its meaning,” he said.
“Names need to have a cognitive meaning and strong motive that tell a story about an area that its residents can recognise.”
Only the Arts and Culture Minister – at the moment Nathi Mthethwa – can approve the name changes. — mbalit@dispatch.co.za
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