Northern Cape EFF targets Orania: Party calls for review of town's status

THE ECONOMIC Freedom Fighters (EFF) in the Northern Cape is calling for a review of Orania's status, pointing to concerns that the town's predominantly Afrikaans culture and emphasis on Afrikaner self-determination undermine national unity and promote apartheid-era ideologies. 

With a population of approximately 3,000, Orania has long been a focal point of controversy, fuelling intense debate about its role and relevance in post-apartheid South Africa.

The EFF argues that Orania's model of Afrikaner self-determination fosters ethnic division and could embolden similar separatist sentiments in provinces like the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, threatening national cohesion.

The party maintains that Orania's socio-political model stands in direct opposition to the constitutional principles of equality, inclusivity, and non-racialism, which are foundational to South Africa's democratic values.

EFF provincial chairperson Shadrack Tlhaole has gone as far as to say that Orania should be abolished, emphasising that it is not something the EFF can appreciate or accept.

However, Orania’s leaders, including Joost Strydom and Wynand Boshoff, have firmly rejected the EFF’s claims, asserting that their town is a legitimate cultural initiative focused on preserving Afrikaner heritage and promoting self-sufficiency. 

They insist that Orania operates within the bounds of the South African Constitution and deny any racial exclusion or discrimination, highlighting co-operative relationships with surrounding communities.

According to Boshoff, despite disagreements, it's beneficial to hear different perspectives. Orania's leadership maintains that the town's model is lawful and aimed at cultural preservation – a stance that has sparked a heated debate about the balance between cultural autonomy and national unity.

The EFF has announced a planned march to the office of Northern Cape Premier Dr Zamani Saul in Kimberley on April 22, following unsuccessful engagements with Orania's leadership and representatives of the Freedom Front Plus (FF+).