South Africans are learning to pronounce Gqeberha, the new name for Port Elizabeth.

Port Elizabeth in South Africa has officially been renamed Gqeberha, a name that draws from the Xhosa language, the native tongue of the late Nelson Mandela.

While many South Africans have welcomed the change, mastering the pronunciation of 'Gqeberha' has proven challenging for those unfamiliar with Xhosa.

Kwena Moabelo, 46, told Dinogo on Thursday, 'It will take time for many South Africans, particularly white South Africans, to get the new name right.'

Moabelo further commented, 'However, it's a positive step in preserving South Africa's indigenous names and languages.'

South Africa’s Minister of Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa, revealed the city's new name on Wednesday, alongside other changes to local town and public infrastructure names.

Mthethwa explained in a statement on Thursday, 'These name changes are part of a government initiative to reshape South Africa’s heritage. The names of our towns and cities represent the cultural identity of our people.'

Lwazi Monyetsane, 33, shared with Dinogo that the renaming was an important step toward fostering a more inclusive South Africa.

‘Our country needs names that reflect historical significance and a future that doesn’t honor oppression... Change as many names as possible, so the black majority can finally feel represented,’ she said.

In response to concerns about the difficulty of pronouncing Gqeberha, Monyetsane remarked: 'Education will solve the issue. With an open mind and respect, no name is too hard to learn.'

Zanele Mahatle, a Johannesburg resident, proposed that South Africa's name should also be reconsidered.

‘At some point, South Africa might need to be renamed,’ she suggested. ‘There’s a lot to be done, from removing statues of apartheid figures to renaming streets,’ Mahatle added.

‘Having street names and buildings that honor our colonizers keeps their legacy alive. Step by step, we must create a country that truly represents us,’ she concluded.

South Africa endured years of oppressive racial segregation under apartheid, a system that enforced laws dividing people by race, granting better public services to whites, and establishing a separate, inferior education system for blacks.

The era of apartheid came to an end in 1994 when Nelson Mandela was elected as South Africa’s first black president.