Professor Carel Boshoff wants to turn the north-west Cape into South Africa’s Silicon Valley, reports Jan Taljaard
THE FIRST concrete plans for an Afrikaner homeland were laid before the Volkstaat Council this week,
And the most novel of these is a proposal from Professor Carel Boshoff and his Afrikaner Freedom Foundation (Avstig) to turn the north-west Cape into South Africa’s own Silicon Valley and to establish the area as a “secure investment area” where foreign investors can make use of confidential bank accounts — along the lines of Swiss banks.
For a change, the Avstig document does not skirt issues such as citizenship and geographical areas.
Not all the proposals are exotic or fanciful. Other ideas mooted for the establishment of a “high technology” environment are to set up tanneries and plants for the manufacture of specialised tools, engine parts and chemicals used in the mining industry.
And in a proposal that may even find favour among those with more green leanings, Avstig envisages that a large part of these industries can be established by harnessing the green powers of a region with plenty of solar and hydro-electric resources.
But long before the Volkstaat’s industries start churning out high tech tools or silicon chips, a spanner of quite another nature is likely to drop into the works and bring the whole process to a gear- wrenching slow down.
Already there are grumblings among Volkstaat supporters who favour other geographical areas that the Avstig proposals may receive too much of a sympathetic ear from the Volkstaat Council (VC).
They point out that the VC’s chairman, Johann Wingard, is not only a long-time supporter and executive member of Avstig, but that no less than three members of the Boshoff family are currently also members of the council.
In an earlier interview with the WM&G, VC spokesman Koos van Rensburg was nevertheless adamant that a particular pressure group inside the Council would not be able to exert undue influence.
He said the VC would only reach its final conclusions to be submitted to government after “scientific and objective investigation” of the different proposals. Added to that, the VC consists of 20 different members, all representative of various geographical proposals.
According to the Avstig, proposals citizenship will have to be accorded to all permanent inhabitants of the region. The catch nevertheless seems to be contained in the following: “International custom will govern immigration and foreigners in the country will be accorded the usual acceptable protection but with certain limitations.”
The document goes on to explain that citizenship and certain privileges may be accorded to prospective citizens who want to be associated with the volkstaat, but that voting rights and the right to be elected to statutory structures will only be the privilege of those living inside the volkstaat or who hold assets in the area.
Although the document says a volkstaat should be attained for a nation (volk) and not so much for whites or a particular race group, the foundation seems to be well aware of the demographic hurdles.
Stating that the area contains around 120 000 whites of which the majority are Afrikaners, the document also acknowledges the existence of 130 000 blacks and 510 000 “coloureds”. But, the document argues, if more densely populated areas such as Kimberley, Warrenton, Postmasburg and Kuruman as well as the “traditional coloured areas in the West” are excluded, an additional 100 000 Afrikaners will ensure a majority.
Boshoff envisages a second Great Trek. Avstig is advocating a huge relocation of Afrikaners from other parts of the country, entailing the establishment of so-called “Trek parties”.
According to Van Rensburg, VC proposals to be submitted to the GNU shortly will nevertheless not be a demand for the immediate establishment of a volkstaat but will contain several interim measures that the volkstaters believe will eventually lead to further independence.
Explaining that a symbiosis will have to be found between Afrikaner loyalty to an Afrikaner state and concurrent loyalty to a larger South Africa, he views the volkstaat of the future as more of an additional province with stronger regional powers than those currently accorded to the provinces.
At the same time such a volkstaat will have to be acceptable to the majority of South Africans. “Whatever is proposed can’t be allowed to create conflict,” he said.
Finality has to be reached pretty soon.
A press conference with final proposals is planned for the end of the month while rumour has it that these proposals will be submitted to the GNU early next month.