{"id":183627,"date":"2021-03-17T10:56:33","date_gmt":"2021-03-17T08:56:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/?p=100263"},"modified":"2021-03-17T10:56:33","modified_gmt":"2021-03-17T08:56:33","slug":"gqeberha-was-port-elizabeth-blindsided","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/gqeberha-was-port-elizabeth-blindsided\/","title":{"rendered":"Gqeberha \u2013 Was Port Elizabeth Blindsided?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Port Elizabeth was renamed to Gqeberha in the Government Gazette of 23 February 2021. This after the process in terms of the Name Change Act was followed over the course of a number of years.<\/p>\n

The reaction from lovers of the name Port Elizabeth was vocal and centered around the cost of name changes and the possible death of tourism to South Africa.<\/p>\n

Gqeberha, Kariega (formerly Uitenhage) and Despatch form part of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality.<\/p>\n

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MyGqeberha.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Residents of Gqeberha were quick to establish online petitions against the name change and the Nelson Mandela Bay Mayor, Nqaba Bhanga of the Democratic Alliance launched an online petition on the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality web site to facilitate protests against the name change as well.<\/p>\n

In terms of the name change act these protests\/appeals against a name change will be allowed up to 30 days after the actual name change is promulgated in the Government Gazette.<\/p>\n

Writing on the Ward7.co.za<\/a> web site Alan Straton \u2013 a candidate Ward Councillor for the Abantu Integrity Movement (AIM)<\/a> \u2013 paraphrasing the Serenity prayer said; \u201cGod grant me the serenity to EMBRACE the need for a name change; courage to capitalise on that in the best way I can; and wisdom to show empathy and nation build with all.\u201d<\/p>\n

In reply Mandisa Magwaxaza summed up the situation as follows; \u201cNicely written, Alan. The serenity prayer says grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change. Ladies and gentlemen, that includes all the perceived flaws in the planning or lack thereof leading up to this name change. We cannot influence that thought process, that boat has sailed. Luckily for us the tourism brand is still Nelson Mandela Bay<\/a> as it is affiliated to the Metro name. All we have control over now is our response and action.\u201d<\/p>\n

In reply to the protests against the name change local news publication \u2013 MyGqeberha.com \u2013 launched an online petition<\/a> allowing residents in favour of the name change to also voice their opinion. Editor of MyGqeberha.com<\/a> Alan Straton said; \u201cWe felt that it was necessary to give a platform to those who approved of the name change. Not only would this bring a modicum of balance to the debate but could very well assist in bringing people on opposing sides of the fence together in understanding of the reconciliation road we are still trudging along.\u201d<\/p>\n

The uptake on the petition from this brand new publication has been strong and the approval comments published can be read here: https:\/\/mygqeberha.com\/tag\/namechange\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Some remarks from residents who approved the name change:<\/strong><\/p>\n