Say Gqeberha 10x or explain loadshedding to tourist

A Scrable game gone wrong? *Why Port Elizabeth Was Renamed Gqeberha — And Why Not Everyone Is Happy About It*

Port Elizabeth, a beautiful city on the coast of South Africa, is now officially called Gqeberha (pronounced “kheh-beh-gah” with a click sound). The name was changed in 2021 by the South African government to reflect the country’s rich African heritage. But not everyone agreed with the change, and it caused a lot of debate across the country.

Let’s look at why the name was changed and why some people still prefer the old one.

Where Did the Name “Gqeberha” Come From?

The new name, Gqeberha, comes from the Xhosa language, one of the main languages spoken in the Eastern Cape. It’s the name of a river in the area and also linked to a local township called Walmer, which used to be called Gqeberha by the Xhosa-speaking people.

The government said the name change was important because many South African towns and cities still have names from colonial times. “Port Elizabeth” was named after the wife of a British governor in the 1800s. By renaming it Gqeberha, the government hoped to honor local culture and history that existed long before the British arrived.

Why Some People Don’t Like the New Name

Even though the idea was to celebrate African identity, not everyone was happy. Many people felt the name change came as a surprise. They said they weren’t properly asked or included in the decision. Some said the money used for changing road signs and documents could have been better spent on schools, hospitals, or fixing potholes.

Others found the new name hard to pronounce, especially those who don’t speak Xhosa. For people who grew up calling it “PE” or “Port Elizabeth,” the change felt strange and sudden.

Some businesses were also worried. Port Elizabeth is a name known around the world, especially with tourists. Changing it to Gqeberha meant they had to explain where they were all over again.

A Country with Many Voices

South Africa is a country with 11 official languages and many different cultures. That makes it special — but it can also lead to disagreements. Changing a city’s name is not just about signs or maps. It’s about identity, history, and feelings.

For some, Gqeberha is a name that brings pride. For others, it brings confusion or frustration. But maybe, over time, people will get used to it — just like they did with other name changes, like Mbombela (which used to be Nelspruit) or Makhanda (formerly Grahamstown).

What Do You Think?

If you lived in a city and its name was changed, how would you feel? Would you be proud if the new name came from your culture? Or would you miss the old name that you grew up with?

South Africa’s story is still being written — and sometimes, that means changing the names of the places we know.

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