Winnie Mandela Bloemfontein Name changes

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela to be honoured with William Nicol Drive name change.
Image source: Flickr/
JMSGloboVision

Bloemfontein set for name changes, nearby town getting ‘Winnie revamp’

Bloemfontein, and one of its neighbouring towns, both look likely to be the next locations in South Africa affected by ‘transformational’ name changes.

Winnie Mandela Bloemfontein Name changes

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela to be honoured with William Nicol Drive name change.
Image source: Flickr/
JMSGloboVision

Plans are afoot to alter the official titles of two well-known locations in Free State – and one of the name changes is set to take place in the heart of Bloemfontein. What’s more, it seems that ANOTHER town will be named after Winnie Mandela.

More towns to be named after Winnie Mandela

Brandfort is just a stone’s throw away from Bloemfontein. But, according to the Free State Culture and Recreation MEC Limkatso Mahasa, that won’t be its name for much longer: The iconic town is set to follow Mbizana’s lead, becoming the second location in 2021 to adopt the name of Winnie Mandela as its official title.

This has been in the pipeline for quite a while, and it seems inevitable that Ma Winnie’s legacy will be cemented in the town that homed the struggle hero during the long fight against apartheid. However, we now have something of a surprise on the cards – as it appears that a significant part of Bloemfontein will get the ‘name change treatment’, too.

Name changes ‘coming to Bloemfontein’

Hoffman Square, located in Bloem CBD, is now under review. Fezile Dabi and Albertina Sisulu could find their names adorned over the signs for Hoffmansplein in the near future, after Mahasa confirmed that other anti-apartheid heroes were being considered for this particular location. The DA, however, has openly questioned the motives behind these moves:

“We are concerned by the timing of name change proposals in the Free State relating to Brandfort and Hoffman Square in Bloemfontein before Local Government ElectionsName change proposals shortly before elections create a legitimate impression that they are motivated by electoral politics instead of sound principles.”

“We believe that sound principles should apply to name change proposals. They must be based on contextually sound historical research, and should promote and preserve the Free State’s rich diversity. Financial implications should be taken into account, and all decisions on name changes must be preceded by legally prescribed public participation processes.”

Roy Jankielsohn, Leader of the Opposition in the Free State