To: President Cyril Ramaphosa, Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), and the Premier of the Eastern Cape, Oscar Mabuyane

We, the AmaQwathi Nation, are calling on you to intervene and reverse the unlawful renaming of Engcobo Local Municipality to Dr. AB Xuma Local Municipality. This name change was pushed through without proper public consultation, violating our constitutional rights and disrespecting the rich history of our people and our land.

Engcobo is more than just a name, it is the heart of AmaQwathi land, a place founded by our visionary Inkosi Fubu (Aah! Mlindazwe!). He established Engcobo as an economic hub, a place of trade and prosperity for our nation. The legacy of Inkosi Fubu and his son, Inkosi Mbikelwa Dalasile, is deeply woven into the fabric of this town. They were not only great leaders who donated land for schools, hospitals, and churches but also courageous warriors who fought against colonial dispossession.

For generations, AmaQwathi leaders like Inkosi Dalasile were revered as freedom fighters, even by icons like Nelson Mandela. Our history of resistance and our contribution to building a free South Africa should be celebrated, not erased. This name change, without our consent, is an affront to our heritage and a sign of disrespect from our own government.

We have repeatedly tried to engage with provincial and local government officials, including the Premier and the Engcobo Mayor. Our letters and pleas have been ignored. We were promised a meeting that never happened. Our government has been deaf to our requests for dialogue, leaving us no choice but to take our fight to the public.

This is a plea for justice, for dignity, and for the recognition of AmaQwathi's rightful place in the history of this province and this country.

We demand the following:

 - The immediate reversal of the name change from Dr. AB Xuma back to Engcobo Local Municipality.

 - That the AmaQwathi Royal Council and Nation are formally consulted on any future name change decisions, in line with the law and our democratic rights.

 - An official apology and atonement from the provincial government for its handling of this matter.

 - The establishment of heritage sites and statues in Engcobo to honour the sacrifices and contributions of our great leaders, Inkosi Fubu and Inkosi Mbikelwa Dalasile.

This is not a petition against Dr. AB Xuma, whose legacy is well-known. This is a petition for our own history, our heritage and is for the right to our self-determination, we are crying for our voices to be heard.

Sign this petition and join us in our call to protect AmaQwathi heritage and ensure our government respects the law and its people. Your signature can help us right this historical wrong.