Graaff-Reinet

Graaff-Reinet
Town
Robert Sobukwe Town
View of Graaff-Reinet Town Hall Valley of Desolation Fields near Graaff-Reinet Graaff-Reinet Museum Dutch Reformed Church
Coat of arms
Graaff-Reinet Location within Eastern Cape Graaff-Reinet Location within South Africa Graaff-Reinet Location within Africa
Coordinates: 32°15′08″S 24°32′26″E
Country	South Africa
Province	Eastern Cape
District	Sarah Baartman
Municipality	Dr Beyers Naudé
Established	1786
Area
• Total	203.62 km2 (78.62 sq mi)
Elevation	750 m (2,460 ft)
Population  (2011)
• Total	35,672
• Density	175.19/km2 (453.74/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
• Coloured	62.18%
• Black African	28.19%
• White	8.74%
• Indian/Asian	0.47%
• Other	0.42%
First languages (2011)
• Afrikaans	71.83%
• IsiXhosa	17.89%
• English	3.37%
• Other	6.91%
Time zone	UTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)	6286, 6280, 6281
Area code	049

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Graaff-Reinet (Afrikaans: [ˌχrɑːf.rəˈnɛt]; Xhosa: eRhafu; Khoe: !Xamdubu), officially renamed Robert Sobukwe Town in February 2026, is a town in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. It is the oldest town in the province and the sixth oldest town in South Africa, after Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Simon's Town, Paarl and Swellendam. The town was the centre of a short-lived republic in the late 18th century before being annexed into the Cape Colony. The town was a starting point for Great Trek groups led by Gerrit Maritz and Piet Retief and furnished large numbers of the Voortrekkers in 1835–1842.

Graaff-Reinet is home to more national monuments than any other town or city in South Africa. It is also known for being a flourishing market for agricultural produce, noted for its mohair industry, and sheep and ostrich farming.

In 2023, it was proposed for Graaff-Reinet to have its name changed (to be named after Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe). The name change to Robert Sobukwe Town was approved in January 2026 by the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, although many residents have voiced their opposition to the change.