Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has denied claims that he has reversed the renaming of Graaff-Reinet to Robert Sobukwe Town, insisting that no court has ruled on the controversial name change.
The ministry issued a statement on Monday dismissing messages circulating on WhatsApp and social media claiming that McKenzie had withdrawn the renaming, along with other geographical name changes in the Eastern Cape, after a court case was “won”.
“I have not withdrawn anything. There is no new decision, no court judgment and no victory for anyone to celebrate,” McKenzie said.
The minister confirmed that the geographical name changes published in the Government Gazette on 6 February 2026 remained in place.
He said he had neither withdrawn nor amended the changes, and no new decision had been communicated to any individual, political party or organisation.
The ministry also dismissed claims that a court had ruled in the dispute, saying AfriForum’s review application in the Gauteng Division of the High Court in Pretoria had not been finalised and no judgment had been handed down.
“Because the matter is before the court, it is sub judice,” the ministry said, adding that it would not comment on the merits of the case.
McKenzie said he would respect the outcome of the judicial process.
“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,” he said.
The ministry also distanced itself from messages attributing statements about the renaming to DA MP Samantha Graham-Maré.
It said it could not verify whether Graham-Maré had made the statements and confirmed that it had not communicated any decision to reverse the renaming to her or anyone else.
The ministry urged the public, journalists and public representatives to verify information with the department before circulating it.
Official statements, it said, were available on the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture’s website and its official social media platforms.
The dispute centres on the renaming of Graaff-Reinet to Robert Sobukwe Town in honour of the Pan Africanist Congress founder and anti-apartheid activist, who was born in the Eastern Cape town.
AfriForum has challenged the renaming through a judicial review application. The ministry’s latest statement makes clear that the legal challenge remains unresolved and that the gazetted name change has not been withdrawn.
