South Africa’s city of Port Elizabeth has been officially renamed Gqeberha – derived from the Xhosa language – the native tongue of late political hero Nelson Mandela.

The committee recommended Port Elizabeth be renamed Gqeberha – the isiXhosa name for Walmer Township, which is one of the first and oldest Port Elizabeth townships.

The most notable change is for Port Elizabeth, which is now known as Gqeberha. The Port Elizabeth International Airport has also had its name changed to the Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport.

South Africa has changed the name of Port Elizabeth, a major city in the Eastern Cape province, to Gqeberha. It is a Xhosa name - so many South Africans who cannot speak the language are having ...

The second-oldest colonial city in South Africa, Port Elizabeth, has a new name. It mixes some of the unique linguistics of the Xhosa language, yet many South Africans are struggling to pronounce it.

South Africa has changed the name of Port Elizabeth, a major city in the Eastern Cape province, to Gqeberha. It is a Xhosa name - so many South Africans who cannot speak the language are having ...