R157 million for a new name: The hidden cost of SA's naming debate

Key topics:Renaming costs hit residents and businesses hardest across South Africa.Sunshine Coast towns face R157 million price tag.Critics demand funds go to services, not symbolic gestures.Sign up for your early morning brew of the BizNews Insider to keep you up to speed with the content that matters. The newsletter will land in your inbox at 5:30am weekdays. Register here.Support South Africa’s bastion of independent journalism, offering balanced insights on investments, business, and the political economy, by joining BizNews Premium. Register here.If you prefer WhatsApp for updates, sign up to the BizNews channel here. .By Kerry Lanaghan.Renaming cities and roads in South Africa has become a deeply contentious issue, often sparking heated public debate that pits historical redress against present-day economic realities. While proponents argue that changing offensive or colonial names is necessary in nation-building and reconciliation, the high financial costs and the practical burdens placed on citizens and businesses have raised serious questions about whether this money could be better spent on urgent issues like service delivery and infrastructure.In a report from the Daily Maverick, the estimated cost of changing the names of three towns on the Sunshine Coast - Port Alfred, Alexandria, and Bushman's River Mouth - to their traditional names was an astounding R157 million. This figure, compiled by Sunshine Coast Tourism, accounts for public and private sector expenses. The Ndlambe municipality must spend R9 million on new signage, maps, and documentation. At the same time, businesses in the area would collectively bear a cost of R22 million to update their branding, websites, and marketing materials. This financial outlay is particularly alarming for a region with other pressing needs. A poll cited in the report found that 94% of residents were against the name changes, fearing the costs and the potential loss of business. This situation on the Sunshine Coast is not an isolated incident. The issue of renaming costs is a national problem. The City of Tshwane, which includes Pretoria, has been a focal point of this debate for years. A 2008 report from Moneyweb revealed that the estimated cost to change just 27 street names in Pretoria could exceed R800 million. Critically, the report highlights that most of these costs would be borne not by the government, but directly by residents and businesses who would have to update their title deeds, administrative records, stationery, and GPS information. This financial burden on the private sector and small businesses is a significant part of the hidden cost of renaming.Similarly, Polity.org reported that in Ekurhuleni, there was a public outcry when it was revealed that the city was prepared to spend an estimated R300,000 on renaming over 40 locations and roads. Critics argued that this non-essential exercise diverted resources from crucial services. This sentiment is echoed across the country, where many communities feel that their tax money should be used to provide basic services like clean water, electricity, and sanitation, rather than for symbolic changes that don’t address the core challenges of poverty, unemployment, and failing infrastructure.Even the government’s departments do not always track the full financial impact. According to a report in BusinessTech, the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture does not do cost estimates for the name changes it approves, viewing its work as part of a "budgeted mandate" to transform geographical names. While rooted in the constitutional imperative to redress historical injustices, this approach often ignores the practical and economic consequences.Another prominent example that sparked widespread debate is the name change from Port Elizabeth to Gqeberha in 2021. While many supported the move to honour the city’s indigenous heritage, others, including isiXhosa speakers, questioned the name choice and the lack of proper community consultation, arguing that the city was already known as "iBhayi." An opinion piece in the Daily Maverick argued that such initiatives are often a form of "political opportunism," used for a political party's gain instead of serving the community's actual needs.In conclusion, the debate over renaming places in South Africa highlights a fundamental tension between symbolic transformation and socioeconomic priorities. While the intention to correct past injustices is laudable, the reality is that these changes carry immense financial and logistical burdens, not only for the government but, more importantly, for the people and businesses who live in these areas. The resources allocated to these projects could be directed towards alleviating the suffering caused by poor service delivery and decaying infrastructure. Until the government finds a way to balance symbolic change with tangible improvements in the lives of its citizens, the controversy over renaming will likely continue to overshadow the progress it aims to represent.

R157 million for a new name: The hidden cost of SA's naming debate

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