By Kaya 959 News
Arts and Cultural minister Nathi Mthethwa has announced that the town of Brandfort in the Free State will be renamed after struggle icon Winnie Mandela.
A government gazette published on Friday (6 August) states that the change has been approved – although it is not clear if it will take immediate effect.
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The town is 60km to the north of Bloemfontein, and has a deep historical connection with the apartheid struggle hero.
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The Geographical name change of Brandfort to Winnie Mandela has been Gazetted. pic.twitter.com/yPshSQFVEO
— Masechaba Khumalo 🇿🇦🏳️🌈 (@MKhumalo___) August 6, 2021
Also Read: ANC pushes for William Nicol to be renamed Winnie Madikizela Mandela Drive
Important facts about Brandfort
Madikizela-Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist and politician, and the second wife of president Nelson Mandela.
- Winnie was banished to the dusty Afrikaner dominated town of Brandfort in the Free State where she lived at house 802 with her youngest daughter, Zindzi.
- There was no running water or electricity and the house had no floors or ceilings. The people spoke mainly Sotho, Tswana or Afrikaans and hardly any Xhosa, which was Winnie’s home language.
The City of Johannesburg has also formally agreed to rename William Nicol Drive after the struggle icon.
A year for name changes
In February, Mthethwa announced a number of name changes in the Eastern Cape which he said were for transformation purposes. Some of the most notable changes include:
- Port Elizabeth to Gqeberha;
- Uitenhage to Kariega;
- King Williamstown to Qonce;
- East London Airport to King Phalo Airport;
- Port Elizabeth Airport to Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport.



