Chairperson
Mr Christian Martin, Chairperson of the Eastern Cape Provincial Geographical Names Committee (ECPGNC), is a civil rights activist and social justice pioneer from the Northern Areas of Gqeberha. With a lifelong commitment to Indigenous Knowledge Systems and the recognition of the KhoiSan Nation, Mr Martin has played a leading role in the fight for indigenous rights. He is known nationally for his involvement in the KhoiSan group that has camped outside the South African Parliament, advocating for official recognition and legislative inclusion. A visionary in heritage and naming transformation, Mr Martin was instrumental in the renaming of key places such as Kariega, David Stuurman Airport, and Nxuba, among many others. His advocacy has helped shift South Africa’s geographical naming landscape from colonial remnants to proudly reflect indigenous heritage. He has conducted extensive research into indigenous place names, further driving their adoption in the national registry.
A former Eastern Cape MEC for Social Development and Public Works, Mr Martin has served in various leadership roles within the Provincial Legislature and currently a strategic Advisor to the Deputy Executive Mayor of Gqeberha. This is his second term with the ECPGNC, having first joined as a member and later appointed Chairperson during the previous term. He also represents the province as a member of the South African Geographical Names Council (SAGNC), where he contributes to national efforts in heritage transformation. Outspoken and media-savvy, Mr Martin continues to be a strong public voice on issues of social justice, indigenous recognition, and cultural transformation in the Eastern Cape and beyond.