Draft Law Would Add Appeals and Deadlines to Place Name Changes
A 2026 draft amendment bill for the Geographical Names Council is open for comment. It proposes an appeals tribunal and deadlines for name decisions.
How South African places get new names may change. In March 2026 the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture approved publishing the Draft South African Geographical Names Council Amendment Bill, 2026 in the Government Gazette for public comment.
What the draft proposes
- An appeals tribunal for people who object to a name change.
- Timelines for the minister’s decisions on proposed names.
It is a draft, and we could not confirm whether it has been passed. Follow the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture for updates.
Why it matters
2026 has already seen 21 approved name changes, including East London to KuGompo City and Graaff-Reinet to Robert Sobukwe Town, some of them contested. Clearer rules affect how quickly new names reach signs, maps and address forms.
Postal codes are not affected
Name changes do not change postal codes. ZarPostalCodes lets you search by old and new names. See our guide on what a renamed town means for your address.