The Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture' (DSRAC) cultural body, Eastern Cape Provincial Geographical Names Committee (ECPGNC) will conduct public hearings on proposed name change of provincial geographical features that are located within Buffalo City Municipality from 19-20 and 26 November 2019.
Amongst a list of applications to be discussed at the public hearings, is King Williams Town, Berlin, East London and the East London Airport.
The ECPGNC has received applications for proposed renaming, conducted research on the name and facilitated a consultative process with local community concerned, business, faith organisations, and other stakeholders in the jurisdiction of the place to be renamed.
We are now in the stage of public hearings and advertisement of proposed names for public comment where details of reason for the proposed standardization of each name will be presented.
If there are any objections, the names are sent to the ECPGNC's Objections Sub-committee for response. If a consensus on the new name has been reached amongst all relevant stakeholders, the Committee makes recommendations to the national South African Geographical Names Council (SAGNC) which examines the processes followed in coming to the conclusion that such a name should be standardised or accepted before the name is gazetted for public comments, acceptance or rejection.
The schedule for the public hearings is as follows:
| Date and Time | Proposed Venue | Existing Name | Proposed Names |
| 19 November 2019 at 16h00 | Town Hall, King Williams Town | King William's Town East London Airport | *Qonce *Chief Pato Airport | * King Hintsa Airport | *Pato Chungwa | *King Phalo Airport |
| 20 November 2019 at 16h00 | Town Hall, Berlin | Berlin East London Airport | *Tshabo | * Ntab'oZuko Chief Pato Airport | * King Hintsa Airport | *Pato Chungwa | *King Phalo Airport |
| 26 November 2019 at 16h00 | City Hall, East London | East London East London Airport | *Ku-Gompo | * Steve Biko *Chief Pato Airport | * King Hintsa Airport | *Pato Chungwa | *King Phalo Airport |
For media queries, contact:
Mr Andile Nduna
Cell: 071 411 4820
Email: Andile.Nduna@ecsrac.gov.za
Issued by
DSRAC Communications
Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture – DSRAC E.C
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