Gqeberha? Did that really happen, ask Walmer township residents
‘We sit here every day waiting for work while other people decide to rename a city. Surely, jobs and housing are more important’
Many Walmer township residents either don’t care or don’t know that Gqeberha — derived from their township’s Xhosa name — is Port Elizabeth’s new moniker.
The change from Port Elizabeth to Gqeberha was among the name changes officially approved and gazetted by sports, arts and culture minister Nathi Mthethwa last Tuesday.
While some have applauded the change, others are still trying to get their heads around the tongue-twister of a name.
KwaMagxaki resident Boy Lamani proposed the name change for Port Elizabeth to the Geographical Names Committee in early 2016.
At the time he said Gqeberha — a Xhosa name for Walmer township — was one of the first and oldest Port Elizabeth townships.
Gqeberha is also historically the Xhosa name for the Baakens River.
A snap poll among more than a dozen residents in the township on Thursday showed they were indifferent about the new name, with some not even aware the township had had a Xhosa name.
The biggest gripe was that the name change came at a cost when the money could have been better used elsewhere.
Themba Vani, 38, who was the only one questioned who knew the city had a new name, was vocal about his support for Gqeberha.
“Of course it is good. The whole country should be named after Gqeberha. I don’t see why we don’t make that submission next time.”
Vani said he had found out how he could approach the Geographical Names Committee to rename SA Gqeberha.
For the others, the decision was a moot point.
Osman Mashapu, 28, said he just wanted a house and hoped this would be on top of the government’s list now.
“Who decides to do these things anyway? How does it even make sense?
“We sit here every day waiting for work while other people decide to rename a city. Surely, jobs and housing are more important.”
Angelique Mpopoma, 27, was not aware the township was referred to as Gqeberha in Xhosa.
“That is news to me. I never knew. Why would they change the city’s name to that? It does not make sense,” she said.
Honest Dube, 30, said he did not care and would rather have a permanent job than live in a city called Gqeberha.
“What must I do with a new name? How does this help me feed my family,” he said.
Dube asked how much such an exercise to rename a city would cost.
“If I get to paint some of the new signs I will support this.”
Lithalethu Matumane, 41, burst out laughing when told about the new name.
“They changed the city’s name to Gqeberha?” he asked, adding that this had made his day before walking off.