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Zuma in Orania

President is Welcomed at Afrikaners-Only Enclave in Northern Cape

President Zuma yesterday paid a ‘goodwill visit’ to the whites-only Afrikaner enclave of Orania in the Northern Cape. The trip was prompted when Pres. Zuma received word that the town’s founded Prof. Carel Boshoff IV, was in poor health. Orania was founded in 1990, some months after whites voted to dismantle apartheid, as a place where Afrikaner self-reliance could be practiced and cultural heritage preserved. The town has pioneered various agricultural and ecological projects, and in 2004 started its own local currency, the Ora, which is equal to ten rand.

The President’s Oryx helicopter touched down shortly before 9:00am, and he was greeted by Prof. Boshoff as well as by his son, Mayor Carel Boshoff V and the mayor’s wife. Fifty schoolchildren from the town school also welcomed the President and waved the town’s blue-white-and-orange flag. After a private chat with the elder Boshoff, President Zuma met with leaders of the community in the community hall, and discussed the legal status of Orania, which is not registered as a municipality. The Oranians pay their taxes and were hoping to have some of that money come back to alleviate the acute housing shortage in the town. Following these discussions, the President visited the Elim project which houses unemployed men who come to the community.

After the two-and-a-half hour visit, the President spoke of his impressions of Orania.

“My impression of Orania is different from what is often created, that of a community somewhere trying to establish a republic. I think this is a community living within South Africa, but seeking to practice their culture. I think that is the basis for continued contact.”

“They want to cooperate with other communities so that everyone can learn together. It creates space for dialogue to discuss issues further.” President Zuma added “Orania is part of us, and we are part of them.”

Prof. Boshoff said the president’s visit would be remembered as “an outstanding day”.

The last presidential visit to Orania was made by Nelson Mandela in 1995, when he visited Betsie Verwoerd, the widow of the assassinated South African prime minister and architect of apartheid Hendrik Verwoerd. Mevrou Verwoerd died in 2007.

The controversial leader of the ANC Youth League, Julius Malema, visited the town shortly before the 2009 parliamentary elections. Malema said he found the attitude of the community suprisingly engaging, and hoped that they would integrate with the rest of the country and share their agricultural knowledge. “They cooperate instead of working against each other,” adding that this was a nice and welcome reality.

Orania returned to the headlines following the grisly murder of white supremacist and AWB leader Eugene Terre’blanche, as journalists sought reactions from the Afrikaner townsfolk. Prof. Boshoff condemned the killing but declined to attend the man’s funeral. “I’m not enamoured of him. He chose a path of confrontation, of conflict. We wanted another way.”

Published at 11:45 am on Wednesday 15 September 2010. Categories: Politics South Africa Tags: , , , .
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