I have noticed that many people are confused about place names in South Africa and what they are called.
I know it seems like ages since some of the cities were renamed, but with many local people still referring to them as their old names, it can get very confusing!
Since the 1994 democratic elections, the people have been trying to reclaim some of their African heritage and have been renaming provinces and cities. Most maps do have both names on them to make it easier, but I thought I would try and simplify things by writing a list of places and their new and old names for reference. Firstly, the provinces:
Transvaal – this was divided up and now forms the following provinces:
- North-West Province
- Mpumalanga
- Limpopo (which was called Northern Province for a while)
- Gauteng (a Sotho word meaning “at the gold”)
Cape Province – this now forms
- Western cape
- Eastern Cape
- Northern Cape
Orange Free State – this was simplified to Free State
Natal – this was extended to reflect the Zulu culture to KwaZulu Natal
Most of the places that have been renamed in South Africa are in the north and have been done so as they reflect too much on Afrikaaner historical figures:
- Pietersburg is now Polokwane
- Louis Trichardt is now Makhado
- Potgietersrust is now Mokopane
- Warmbaths is now Bela –Bela
- Nylstroom is now Modimolle
Local colloquial names for the cities are often used too:
- Nelson Mandela Metropole is Port Elizabeth and East London
- Nelson Mandela Bay refers to Port Elizabeth
- eKapa refers to Cape Town
- eGoli refers to Johannesburg (meaning “place of gold”)
- eThekwini refers to Durban (meaning “in the bay”)
So, I hope this helps you a little with your planning