The Port Elizabeth City Hall, which is located in Market Square, was built between 1858 and 1862. The attractive clock tower was only added in 1883. The City Hall serves as a Council Chamber as well as a Concert Hall, a Lecture Hall and Offices for City Council Employees.
The City Hall was proclaimed a National Monument in 1973. It burnt down in 1977 and was rebuilt. Also in the Square, is a replica of the Diaz Cross, donated by the Portuguese Government to commemorate the arrival of Bartholomew Diaz in Algoa Bay in 1488.
Finally in 2021, with the aim to distance South Africa from its colonial past and represent the authentic South Africa, the name was changed to Gqeberha, embracing its Xhosa heitage and celebrating its iconic river.
Port Elizabeth, now known as Gqeberha, has a rich history rooted in British colonialism and the influx of British settlers in 1820. Initially established as a military outpost, it later became a major port city, playing a significant role in the Eastern Cape's economic development. The city's history also includes the impact of apartheid and forced removals, as well as the eventual renaming to Gqeberha in 2021.
