Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, has approved 12 new geographical names in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, according to a notice published in the Government Gazette on Monday.
The approved names include two townships in the City of Tshwane, as well as rivers, a mountain and two villages in KwaZulu-Natal.
The approvals were made in terms of section 10(2) of the South African Geographical Names Council Act, 1998.
The names are designated for registration and cover geographical features in the City of Tshwane and the Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal’s UGu District Municipality.
Two new township names in Gauteng
Two of the approved names relate to townships in the City of Tshwane:
- Dinokeng View – township
- Menoatlou – township
Both names are listed as names to be registered.
KwaZulu-Natal receives 10 approved names
The remaining 10 names relate to geographical features in the Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality, within the UGu District Municipality.
These include seven rivers, one mountain and two villages.
The names and features listed in the notice are:
| Approved name | Geographical feature |
|---|---|
| uLonjane | River |
| KwaShobashobane | Village |
| iKhangeza | River |
| uGodlogodlo | River |
| uButhongo | River |
| uBenyu | River |
| uSihlambweni | Mountain |
| uSihlambo | River |
| eMaxhantini | River |
| uDlovunga | Village |
Public can object to approved names
The notice states that any person or organisation dissatisfied with a name approved by the minister may lodge a written objection within one month of the name’s publication in the Government Gazette.
Comments or objections may be sent to the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture at Sagnc@dsac.gov.za.
The latest approvals form part of South Africa’s official geographical naming process, which provides for the formal approval and registration of names for places and geographical features.
The notice was published in Government Gazette No. 55599 on 19 October 2026.
Is the renaming of townships, towns, villages, rivers and mountains in South Africa a waste of time?
Let us know by clicking on the comment banner below …