The Orania Movement is celebrating 30 years of existence. A group of Afrikaner leaders came together on this day in 1988 in Pretoria and decided to change the political and cultural landscape in the country.
The movement later established Orania in 1991, a town based in the Northern Cape.
Celebrations are, however, muted but minority rights hold a dear place for its inhabitants.
“It’s important for me to have the option to preserve those values of culture and language. As I think, it’s important for every South African. Whatever your language is, it’s important to fight for it and to try and build it out,” said a resident Joost Strydom.
“Today is still relevant for us. We have started Orania and people are living in Orania today and Orania is expanding. Therefore, we find this every year an important date for us. A date that we believe in the future will lead to something bigger in Orania,” Orania Chief Executive Jaco Kleynhans.
The formation of the Orania Movement was for Afrikaners to strive for self-determination.
“We were part of the discussions from the very start, even before the discussions around the new South Africa took place. We entered some of the concepts that were incorporated in the new constitution and we are still in the process of implementing those of practicing self-determination in such a way that it supports democracy and human rights. They are combined in a certain sense in Orania in a way that we’re very proud of. And we think that it’s something to give to South Africa in a day like today,” said Orania leader Carel Boshoff.
A gala event will be held to commemorate the 30-year anniversary of the Orania movement.
