Latest news with #Afrikaner-only
The South African
20-05-2025
- Politics
- The South African
Staying or going? Orania residents on being Afrikaner 'refugees'
Residents of Orania – the Afrikaner only town located in the Northern Cape – are responding to US President Donald Trump's offer of 'refugee status' in the US. And for many, that means staying behind in South Africa, and celebrating their 'freedom'. Last week, 49 white South Africans arrived in America as part of the resettlement programme. The group claims to be victims of 'racial discrimination'. On their official Facebook account, Orania town officials posed a question to their followers. 'Refugee or freedom', it asked. In the comments section, residents of the Afrikaner-only town shared that they are mostly interested in staying in South Africa and preserving their culture and freedom. Deon Kotze: 'Freedom. Abroad is not going to offer us freedom. We must consolidate if we want to survive as Afrikaners.' Deon Domingo: 'Freedom. We are not moved by the enemy.' Arthur Spies: 'Every country in the world has different problems, so I say we stay put.' Andrew Lunt: 'Freedom! America is not freedom.' Afrikaners: Vlugteling of Vryheid? Wat sê jy? Posted by Orania on Wednesday 14 May 2025 Speaking to political commentator Matt Gaetz last week, Orania Movement leader Joost Strydom stated that while Afrikaners were thankful for President Donald Trump's refugee status offer, they were interested in establishing a home for themselves in South Africa. He told the One America News Network: 'What we really appreciate is that President Trump called us by our name. We are Afrikaners, we are a distinct people. A distinct group with a distinct language and culture He continued: 'We are very thankful for that…but people need a place. And in that light, we ask for political recognition, specifically self-determination. 'Now we ask if there can be a Trump declaration stating that a national home for Afrikaners is a legitimate pursuit, and that they will support it with their best endevours'. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
17-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Kleinfontein is not an illegal township, maintains CEO
Mayor Moya has established a committee to prevent more townships from popping up. While City of Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya has declared Kleinfontein among 17 illegally established townships in city, the Afrikaner-only town's leadership says nothing could be further from the truth. Earlier this week, Moya confirmed that the city has identified 17 illegally established townships within the metro's boundaries, some established on municipal land or private property. These include: Leeuwfontein; Kleinfontein; Moshate Gardens; Marula View; Mooikloof (Tweefontein) Wallmannsthal; Haakoringboom; Onderstepoort; Elandsfontein Plots; and Moloto City. Moya said the individuals responsible for these settlements did not follow the legal framework that governs township establishment. 'In most cases, no formal township application was lodged, environmental and planning approvals were bypassed, and no bulk infrastructure was planned or installed,' she said. Moya said these illegal developments now face a host of serious challenges, including inadequate access to water, electricity, sanitation, and roads, poor spatial integration, and service delivery backlogs. Moya has established a mayoral sub-committee to prevent more townships from popping up. The High Court in Pretoria declared Kleinfontein illegal last year and ordered the city to enforce its laws and regulations in the area. The settlement's leaders said they planned to challenge this in court. Town not illegal, says CEO Kleinfontein CEO Stefan Wiese welcomed the establishment of this committee, but disputed that the town is an illegal township. 'Kleinfontein is a legally established cultural settlement in terms of section 235 of the constitution of the Republic of South Africa, which provides for the right to self-determination of cultural communities. 'This status was formally acknowledged by the Gauteng Legislature in 2013, following a visit to Kleinfontein by members of the provincial legislature, who recognised our community as a legitimate cultural expression under the constitution,' he said. Wiese said Kleinfontein is built on private land, legally bought and fully paid for by its members, and developed using funds raised entirely by the community. 'We have received no government grants or assistance in this regard. 'Kleinfontein is also not a burden on the City of Tshwane. Since our establishment more than 30 years ago, we have provided all municipal-type services internally, including water, sanitation, electricity distribution, refuse removal, and internal security. 'We do not receive or require any municipal services from the City. 'Importantly, Kleinfontein has had an active rezoning application with the City of Tshwane since 2013,' he added. Wiese said they were relieved that this matter may now finally receive the attention it deserves through the work of the committee. 'A resolution to this long-outstanding application will bring clarity and benefit all,' he said. ALSO READ: WATCH: 'Apartheid and Kleinfontein can't be mentioned in the same sentence' says Afrikaner community after MK party visit What the committee will do The committee's focus will be on reviewing the findings and legal implications of the 17 identified illegal townships, consulting with affected communities and property owners, engaging relevant departments and enforcement agencies, and recommending a consolidated approach and draft policy for the Council's consideration. The committee includes the MMC for Human Settlements Aaron Maluleka, the MMC for Economic Development and Spatial Planning Sarah Mabotsa, the MMC for Utilities Frans Boshielo, and the MMC for Community Safety Hannes Coetzee. ALSO READ: EFF to march to exclusive Afrikaner township Kleinfontein Are they paying tax? Tshwane's Democratic Alliance (DA) caucus spokesperson, Jacqui Uys, said the party hopes the outcomes of the committee's investigations will be fair towards all the ratepayers and residents of Tshwane. 'The City of Tshwane has 19 illegally established developments, like Kleinfontein, Leeufontein, and Moshate Gardens, where approximately 19 500 individuals are not charged rates and taxes. The city chose to leave some untaxed, yet charge punitive taxes on others,' she added. Uys said it is not fair to Tshwane taxpayers that these areas are exempt from paying tax. 'However, many of whom the homeowners in these developments were hoodwinked by developers when purchasing their properties and were unaware of the accompanied illegalities, thus a punitive tax is also unfair,' she concluded.
Eyewitness News
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Tshwane Municipality establishes mayoral sub-committee to look into formalising 17 illegal townships
JOHANNESBURG - The Tshwane Municipality has established a mayoral subcommittee to look into formalising 17 illegal townships within the capital's borders. The municipality said that some of these settlements were established without following the municipality's zoning regulations. This included the white Afrikaner-only settlement of Kleinfontein, which has seen renewed calls to be abolished. The mayoral subcommittee will bring together the MMCs for human settlements, spatial planning, utilities and community safety. They've been tasked with engaging the affected communities and drawing up a draft policy document that will be considered by the Tshwane council. Tshwane Deputy Mayor Eugene Modise said that each settlement would be considered on a case-by-case basis. "They differ, they are not the same. You will see Leeuwfontein, it's a more privileged people who have built expensive houses but they are willing to come to the party so that we can formalise them. Those which are illegal, we are going to formalise in June, we will be formalising the Marry me [informal settlement]." The illegal white-Afrikaner-only settlement of Kleinfontein has welcomed the establishment of the subcommittee, saying it would bring much-needed clarity on its legal status.
IOL News
14-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
ATM's Vuyo Zungula calls out black parties in GNU for neglecting community needs
ATM leader Zungula criticises black-led GNU parties for failing to negotiate meaningful outcomes, pointing to the Freedom Front Plus as an example of successful negotiations for their community's interests. Image: Oupa Mokoena/Independent Newspapers ATM leader Vuyo Zungula has criticised black political parties within the Government of National Unity (GNU), accusing them of prioritising ministerial positions over tangible benefits for their communities. In a video on X (formerly Twitter), Zungula referenced the Freedom Front Plus, a predominantly Afrikaner party, as an example of a political group that negotiated effectively for its constituency during coalition talks. "Last year, as you know, we had elections in our country, followed by a period of negotiations. During that time, something that's not often talked about, there was a party called the Freedom Front Plus, which is predominantly an Afrikaner party. When they were negotiating, they pushed for the recognition and protection of Orania, an Afrikaner-only town,' said Zungula. He accused black-led parties in the GNU of failing to secure meaningful outcomes for their supporters. 'But you find that the other black parties that are now in the Government of National Unity did not negotiate things for the betterment of our people. As long as they got ministerial positions, they were fine. So I think that is the root cause of our problem,' he said. Zungula's comments come amid an intensifying national debate over the continued existence of racially exclusive towns like Orania and Kleinfontein. As previously reported by IOL, ActionSA condemned both settlements, labeling them 'dangerous symbols of racial isolation masquerading as cultural preservation.' Parliamentary Chief Whip Lerato Ngobeni criticised the use of Section 31 of the Constitution,which protects cultural rights, as a justification for racial separation. 'That section protects cultural expression, not the establishment of modern-day Bantustans for those unwilling to let go of apartheid's legacy,' she said. Ngobeni went further, calling Orania and Kleinfontein 'sanctuaries of apartheid nostalgia' and 'breeding grounds for division and symbolic violence against the dream of inclusion.' The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have also taken a firm stance, staging protests at both Kleinfontein and the Northern Cape Premier's Office. EFF leaders argue that such towns promote segregation and violate the Constitution. The Pretoria High Court has previously ruled that Kleinfontein is unlawful due to zoning infractions. EFF Gauteng chairperson Nkululeko Dunga urged the Tshwane Municipality to act swiftly to shut down illegal developments at Kleinfontein. In the Northern Cape, the EFF has pledged to take further action against Orania. 'We can never be party to a government that is allowing segregation within our province,' said EFF representative Prince Mashele. The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) also joined the debate, announcing plans to introduce a private member's bill to clarify Section 235 of the Constitution, which relates to the right of cultural communities to self-determination. Following a fact-finding visit to Kleinfontein, MK Parliamentary Chief Whip Mzwanele Manyi argued that Section 235 is being exploited to justify racial exclusion. 'We hold the view, as the MK Party in Parliament, that Section 235 is vague and leads to all kinds of interpretations, some of which resemble apartheid-era policies,' said Manyi. 'As much as we must respect all cultures, that respect must not in any shape or form remind us of apartheid.' MK Party leaders maintain that communities like Orania and Kleinfontein distort the Constitution's intention by using cultural rights as a shield for racial separation. Meanwhile, the Freedom Front Plus has defended Orania as a legitimate cultural project aligned with the constitutional principle of self-determination. Freedom Front Plus Member of Parliament Dr Wynand Boshoff dismissed the criticism as politically motivated and an attack on minority rights. 'Since its founding, the VF Plus has been advocating self-determination, as embodied by Orania, among others,' said Boshoff. 'In a multi-ethnic country like South Africa, there is often a majority that pays lip service to recognising diversity but, in reality, denies it.' Boshoff further claimed that the ANC government has marginalised Afrikaners through its transformation policies and insisted that Orania operates within the law and does not engage in racial discrimination. [email protected] Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.
The Citizen
09-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
FF Plus defends Afrikaner-only enclaves Orania and Kleinfontein, accuses EFF of being the real threat
Political parties in parliament voiced their opposition to the two areas. A view of the Good Hope Chamber in Cape Town on 5 May 2025. Picture: Gallo Images/ER Lombard The real existence of Afrikaner-only communities, Orania and Kleinfontein, has been called into questioned by members of parliament (MPs), while Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus) has defended the enclaves. On Friday, the National Assembly held a virtual mini-plenary session to debate the presence of these communities in post-apartheid South Africa. The discussion was initiated by Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema, who argued that Orania, situated in the Karoo region of the Northern Cape, and Kleinfontein, near Pretoria in Gauteng, pose a threat to nation-building, non-racialism, and social cohesion. The parliamentary debate followed a recent EFF protest march to Kleinfontein. Debate on Orania and Kleinfontein Opening the session, EFF MP Carl Niehaus labelled the enclaves as both 'racist' and 'exclusivist'. 'These are not mere settlements; they are deliberate, hateful strongholds of racial segregation meticulously designed to fracture our nation,' he said. Niehaus called for the total dismantling of the communities. 'They must be eradicated, their architects prosecuted, and their toxic ideology banished forever. There is no place for racism in South Africa. Not now, not ever,' he said. ALSO READ: Kleinfontein: EFF says police 'protecting insecurities of white people' (VIDEOS) The EFF MP further accused the communities of enforcing exclusionary policies. 'They enforce policies that bar black South Africans from living or even setting foot in their space; creating islands of white supremacy that mock our constitution and unravel the fabric of our society. 'This is not a passive choice; it is an active, calculated attack on nation-building.' He emphasised that the enclaves were inviting the 'horrors of Apartheid into our democratic era' and argued that they were unconstitutional. Watch the debate below: African National Congress (ANC) MP Gaolatlhe David Kgabo highlighted the timing and intent behind the formation of the communities. 'Orania was established in 1991 and Kleinfontein in the mid-90s with the explicit goal of creating a stronghold for Afrikaner culture, language and identity separated from the rest of South Africa,' he said. Kgabo described the enclaves as suffering from an 'Apartheid hangover'. 'They still believe that white people are superior [to] black people,' the ANC MP remarked. 'Fortified symbols of white supremacy' uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party MP Nkosinathi Nxumalo also criticised the communities, rejecting the idea that they are 'innocent cultural settlements'. 'They are fortified symbols of white supremacy, racism and secessionists of cultural preservation,' Nxumalo said. On the other hand, Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Janho Engelbrecht pointed out that not all Afrikaners support cultural separation. He defended the enclaves' constitutional right to freedom of association, cultural expression and self-determination. READ MORE: Orania snubs Donald Trump, but wants recognition [VIDEO] Engelbrecht, however, contended that such rights must not be distorted into a mechanism of division and exclusion. 'It is not a licence to recreate the past nor to establish enclaves that function in contradiction to the spirit of non-racialism and social cohesion.' The DA MP added that the issue is not their mere existence, but how these communities operate. 'If a community chooses to be homogenous by cultural or language preference, this should not translate into discriminatory practices that effectively exclude others on the basis of race and ethnicity.' FF Plus defends Orania and Kleinfontein Patriotic Alliance (PA) MP Ashley Sauls also weighed in, expressing concern about barriers to entry into these communities, Orania in particular. 'The rules to become part of [the]town [are] so difficult that no non-white will ever be successful to stay there,' Sauls said. Sauls agreed the enclaves posed a threat to nation-building but accused the EFF of doing the same, referencing the party's 'Kill the Boer' chant. Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus) MP Corné Mulder defended the communities, arguing they were being targeted, and criticised the EFF. 'Who is the real threat to non-racialism, a political party [that] wants to cut the throats of whiteness and who wants to confiscate the property of whites?' he asked. READ MORE: High Court declares exclusive Afrikaner township in Pretoria illegal Mulder continued: 'Clearly, the EFF is the threat to social cohesion. Orania and Kleinfontein is no threat. We all know who the threat is.' Meanwhile, ActionSA MP Lerato Ngobeni pushed back against the idea that the enclaves are harmless cultural retreats. 'Behind the fences of Orania and Kleinfontein, children are not learning culture. They are being taught to fear difference, to internalise racial superiority, and to live apart rather than together,' Ngobeni remarked.
