Elections 2016: What will happen in Orania?
The Afrikaner-only town's "right to self-determination" may come to an end after the August 3 municipal elections.
What is Orania?
Orania is an Afrikaner-only town along the Orange River in the Upper-Karoo region of the Northern Cape province.
The aim of the town is to create a stronghold for Afrikaans and the Afrikaner by keeping their language and culture alive.
All jobs, from management to manual labour, are filled by Afrikaners only; non-Afrikaner workers are not permitted unless they have skills no resident has.
There are more than 100 businesses in Orania. The small community has a radio station and its own currency, the Ora.
The right to self-determination
Orania’s existence is allowed by the Constitution of South Africa under a clause (article 235) that allows for “the right to self-determination of any community sharing a common cultural and language heritage within a territorial entity within the republic”. Orania has a non-confrontational attitude towards South African authorities, which have likewise adopted a non-interference policy towards Orania. The ANC government mostly avoids the issue of Orania and its status, as it is seen as less important than many other political issues the party has to deal with.
How does Orania work
The town is run by a town council which is the main political institution in Orania. The council is elected annually. Political parties are not allowed in Orania’s local elections.
How did Orania come to be?
In December 1990, about 40 Afrikaner families, headed by Carel Boshoff, the son-in-law of former SA Prime Minister Hendrik Verwoerd bought the dilapidated town. The first 13 inhabitants moved in April 1991.
Newcomers often say their decision to move to Orania was motivated by a desire to escape the violent crime prevalent in the rest of the country. Many had been victims of crimes. Residents of Orania claim the town is a secure environment and they have no need to lock their doors.
Population
The population of Orania was 1,085 in 2014. It was recently reported that there are 1,300 Afrikaners in Orania. Boshoff had originally envisaged a population of 60,000 after 15 years.
Orania’s current status
In December 2000, the provincial government ordered the dissolution of Orania’s town council and its absorption into a new municipality. Oranians lodged an application with the Northern Cape High Court which found that negotiations between the residents of Orania and the government for a compromise on Orania’s municipal status should take place; until such an agreement can be reached, Orania will retain its status quo.
Thembelihle municipality and Vluytjeskraal Aandeleblok
Orania is part of the Thembelihle municipal area, but by mutual agreement the municipality provides no services and collects no rates from the town. Other taxes are paid normally.
The town is privately owned by the company Vluytjeskraal Aandeleblok. Ownership of plots and houses is in the form of shares in the company. Vluytjeskraal functions like a municipal administration, being funded by rates and delivering services like water, electricity and waste management.
Orania and elections
Since 1994, citizens of Orania have voted all five times in the national elections. Over the last three elections, Orania had an average vote turnout of 65%, based on registered voters. In the general elections of 2009, the community decisively voted for the Freedom Front Plus (FF+) party. Four votes were recorded for the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party in the 2014 election.
Apart from the official local elections, Orania will hold its own elections on 3 August and residents will choose their own council.
Orania and the EFF
Thembelihle Municipality is currently governed by a coalition between the Democratic Alliance (DA), Congress of the People (COPE) and Mayor Danny Jonas who won as an independent candidate, but who is leaning towards the EFF.
Orania could be taken over by the EFF during the local government elections, by default, if residents abstain from voting.
