The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) in the Eastern Cape has voiced strong opposition to the proposed renaming of Port Alfred to either iCawa or iCoyi, as well as the Kowie River to iQoyi.
The party says the move, put forward by the Eastern Cape Geographical Names Committee, threatens the local economy, tourism, and the identity the community has built over decades.
While the VF Plus supports recognising indigenous heritage, it insists that this should not come at the cost of an established tourism brand with international recognition.
Economic and community concerns over name change
In a letter to Ndlambe Local Municipality Speaker Andile Marasi and Committee Chairperson Christian Martin, the VF Plus warned that changing the names would undo years of marketing and investment.
It stated that the move would force small businesses, tourism operators, and the municipality to bear unaffordable costs, while confusing visitors and potentially deterring tourism, thereby impacting jobs and income.
The party has called on authorities to focus on urgent service delivery problems instead, including water shortages, poor roads, high unemployment, housing backlogs, and rising tariffs.
“Millions cannot be spent on name changes while basic services are collapsing,” the party stated.
A Sunshine Coast Tourism survey also found that 93% of residents oppose the change, and the VF Plus says this overwhelming sentiment should guide the decision.
As an alternative, it suggests dual naming or heritage plaques to honour indigenous names without harming the area’s established tourism appeal.
The VF Plus will attend a public meeting on 10 September to formally object to the proposal and has requested a speaking slot for the record.
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