Pretoria: No changes have been made to the name of the Kruger National Park, the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr. Dion George, has confirmed. The Minister has not approved any changes to the name, and no notice has been published in the Government Gazette regarding such a change. There is currently no process in progress to alter the name of the Kruger National Park.

According to South African Government News Agency, in terms of the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act 57 of 2003, only the Minister has the legal authority to assign or amend the name of a national park. The Act’s Schedule 2 lists all national parks and their official names, with Kruger National Park included under Item 11. Any proposed name change must undergo a formal legislative process, which includes public consultation and the publication of a notice in the Government Gazette. No such process has been initiated.

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has urged all individuals and entities to refrain from spreading or repeating unverified claims about name changes. The department emphasized that spreading misinformation undermines public confidence and distracts from the real work of conservation. Members of the public are encouraged to rely solely on official government communications for accurate information.