At the launch of South Africa's newest political party in Johannesburg this week it was revealed that a portrait of a "foreign imposter" – and not Jan van Riebeeck – has been placed on the country's banknotes.
"In 1910 International Money Power (IMP) decided to put one of their own members on our currency," Universal Bond founder Ms Adelmarie Bekker told a hushed audience of about 119 in the Johannesburg Sun's Cullinan Room on Tuesday.
"It has taken me four years to find out who this imposter is," she said. "He is Charles I of England … If PW Botha says South Africa First, why is he keeping a beheaded king of England on our banknotes?" she asked. No-one answered. This was just one of a number of grave allegations made by Bekker, a well-known tax expert and lobbyist who leads the new party. She also claimed that:
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PW Botha failed his matric and was illegally admitted to the University of the Orange Free State ("This is the story I have been told. If it is wrong I will apologise," Bekker said three times.)
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IMP had plotted early this century to have the slogan of the Southern Life Association, Ex Unitate Vires, adopted as South Africa's national motto. ("It was planned. It was planned. By who? By the Southern Life Association.")
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The Third World War had already taken place. ("The First World War took place in our beloved country, my friends. They called it the Boer War, the "Anglo-Boer War … anything but what it was.")
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South Africa was the richest country in the world due to its unique geographic, atmospheric and nutritional features. ("We grow tall and our children taller. We have nutritional value in our food through Vitamin A and the sun in our southern hemisphere. They, don't have it in the north.")
In an emotional speech, Bekker also attacked Foreign Minister Pik Botha for keeping "trophies of animals he has shot" in his home. "I have seen them, became he invited me," she said, "and I was so shocked I couldn't eat my food."
According to its "Meritocracy Manifesto", the Universal Bond aims to form "the Newstates of Southern Africa" by the middle of next month. The seven newstates will apparently incorporate South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia and a bit of Mozambique. Party policy, as set out in the black, green and gold manifesto of the Bond, hinges on the implementation of 62 "New Acts", including the "Physical Protection Act for Animals and Humans", the "New Prohibition Act of Negative Gender and Race Differentiation", the "New Clothing, Uniforms and Apparel Act", the "New Parks, Gardens, Pipes and Drainage Act.
Among Bekker's statements, which drew excited responses from the audience, were: "What are we doing here?" and "Things cannot go on like this." The party leader recounted an "historic" meeting in Pietermaritzburg, convened by Susanna Smit in 1854. "There were 400 Afrikaner women and one man. His name was Cloete. When he wanted to leave, they bolted ' the door."
The Weekly Mail reporters took heed of the historical example, and bolted. – Shaun Johnson and Anton Harber.
