The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) on Thursday confirmed that no name change has been authorised for the Kruger National Park.

Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Dr Dion George said there was nothing in progress to change the name of the Kruger National Park and that he had no intention of approving any request.

Last month, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in the Mpumalanga legislature introduced a motion to rename several prominent landmarks in the province, including the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport, and the Kruger National Park.

The motion was reportedly voted for by the uMkhonto weSizwe Party and the African National Congress, and adopted in the legislature.

George said the official name remained Kruger National Park, as enshrined in law and urged individuals who were “spreading misinformation” to immediately refrain from doing so.

George said spreading misinformation undermined public confidence and distracted from the real work of conservation.

“…no notice has been published in the Government Gazette to alter the name, and no such change has been approved by the Minister. The park remains legally and officially the Kruger National Park,” said the department.

The department explained that in terms of the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act 57 of 2003, only the Minister had the legal authority to assign or amend the name of a national park.

Schedule 2 of the Act lists all national parks and their official names, and Kruger National Park appears under Item 11, it said.

“Any proposed name change must follow a formal legislative process, including public consultation and publication of a notice in the Government Gazette. No such process has been initiated,” the DFFE said.