Scholars reflect on naming as a cultural practice.
- Naming shapes legacy and identity in post- apa4rtheid South Africa.
- Wit’s buildings like Solomon Mahlangu House reflect ongoing efforts to
decolonise space. - Naming is a political act that restores dignity and reclaims erased histories.
When students walk in and out of Solomon Mahlangu House daily, their very lived experience speaks to the act
of reclaiming and renaming public spaces. The age-old question, “what’s in a name?” was grappled with by
students and staff at an event hosted by the Wits School of Architecture and Planning in collaboration with the
Gauteng Geographical Names Committee (GGNC).
The theme “The Power of a Name” guided conversation on the role of naming as a cultural and political act
which can shape identity, reclaim history, and reflect power dynamics (particularly in post-apartheid South
Africa).
Professor Mnamdi Elleh opened the discussion with the statement, “There is power in a name when creating a
legacy.” He said cities like Johannesburg hold layered histories, and names often serve as gateways to
understanding them. Naming, he argued, is not just a symbolic act it’s a powerful tool in shaping public memory
and influencing how we perceive space.
Dr Sipho Nkosi from the GGNC expanded on this idea, framing naming and renaming as processes of
“reservation, restoration, and promotion.” According to Nkosi, restoring indigenous names or renaming places
after significant local figures is one way to address the erasures of the past.
This discussion resonates strongly at Wits itself. Over the years, the university has renamed several of its
buildings to better reflect its commitment to transformation and inclusivity. Solomon Mahlangu House, formerly
Senate House, was renamed in 2017 following student protests that highlighted the need to decolonise
institutional spaces. Robert Sobukwe Block, located on the Education Campus, commemorates the Pan-
Africanist leader and Wits alumnus who played a critical role in the struggle against apartheid.
Meanwhile, buildings like William Cullen Library, John Moffat Building, and Ernest Oppenheimer Hall still
bear the names of colonial figures, missionaries, and mining magnates raising ongoing debates about legacy and
historical accountability within the university.
Dr Nicole Cloete stressed that renaming does not erase existing histories but rather allows new layers of
meaning to emerge particularly those that were previously excluded or marginalised.
Dr Lorato Mokwena added, “History will always be contested,” highlighting that naming is always entangled in
politics and power. She reminded the audience that renaming is not a neutral act it reflects broader cultural and
ideological shifts and often comes with resistance.
Honours student Lesedi Tlala, from the School of Pathology, found the session informative. “There’s a lot of
storytelling behind names,” she noted. For her, names reveal complex relationships between place, memory, and
identity especially when examined through a geographical lens.
As the discussions made clear, naming is not just about what we call places it’s about what, and who, we choose
to remember. And at Wits, as in the country at large, those choices continue to matter
FEATURED IMAGE: Panel members at the event: Dr Nicole, Mr Mkhize, Dr Mokwena. Photo: Lindelwa Khanyile
RELATED ARTICLES:
- Wits Vuvuzela, The men behind the names of buildings at Wits University , Apr 21, 2015
- Wits Vuvuzela, Wits EFF’s proposal to name-change buildings, receives backlash , Aug 19, 2014
