They grew up in a time of political turmoil, but were too young to be participants. They spoke their first words in Afrikaans, while most of their countrymen were demanding that Afrikaans be scrapped in schools.
They queued to vote for the first time with others who could do so for the first time, but had waited much longer for the privilege.
They are the new generation of young Afrikaners fresh out of school or university who are trying to find their way in adult life.
The Mail & Guardian approached a sample of these young Afrikaners to find out how they see themselves in the new South Africa and what they think of the sabotage tactics of the far right, as evinced by the Soweto bombings last week.
Older Afrikaners often accuse the new generation of not participating in the debates that will determine their future. Dan Roodt, a well-known Afrikaans activist, has accused them of partying when they should be fighting for their language. The media have called them the Zoid generation, a reference to the popular Afrikaans rock diva Karen Zoid’s don’t-care attitude.
”I get quite irked when we are put in these little boxes. Let each individual be who he wants to be. If I want to fight for Afrikaans, so be it; if I want to party let me be,” says Mareli van der Walt, a 24-year-old journalist from Vanderbijlpark.
”Who gives people the right to call us the Zoid generation just because we don’t want to fight issues that are important to some old fossils?” asks Carla Lewis (19), who identifies herself as a neo-Afrikaner.
Most of the group rates affirmative action a big obstacle. They call it reverse discrimination and racism. They also criticise the government for its inability to handle crime. The government accused rightwingers of the Soweto bombings. But would these issues drive the Afrikaner youth to bombing?
”Those people [rightwingers] are so ignorant,” says Jean le Clus, a first-year student at the Univeristy of Potchefstroom.
But a few say they can understand where the bombers were coming from.
”Affirmative action and job losses are issues that we have to deal with daily. When I graduate next year, I don’t know whether I’ll get a job. That’s intimidating,” says Elaine Malan (22), a BCom student at the University of Pretoria.
”These omies were used to giving the orders not long ago. Suddenly they are nothing. Sure they’ll feel that these ‘invaders’ need a lesson of who is still the baas,” says Roeloff Bester (25), a salesman.
”You can’t ignore these fanatics who think their grievances justify blowing up people. They won’t go away and it will be a mistake to laugh at them,” says Van der Walt.
Estie Prinsloo (23) lives and works in London and believes that young Afrikaners should stand together in condemning the right-wing activity.
”Though I live overseas at the moment, I take every opportunity to promote South Africa … I believe we can change perceptions and get rid of the negativity while learning from the countries we currently live in.”
Some believe it’s too early to blame the bombs on rightwingers.
”I don’t think it was far-right activists, because when they do something they do it well, and they will admit to doing it. [The Congress of South African Trade Unions] has been unhappy with government policy. They want to show that they can keep people away from work,” says Gawie Botha, an electronic engineer from Pretoria.
Pieter van Aardt of Pretoria says it was unfair and dangerous of the government to blame rightwingers without proof. ”The statements promote racism and division between the different groups of our country.”
Politically the youngsters are divided on who they will support in the next election. Some believe the Democratic Alliance’s fighting attitude is the way to go, but others believe the conflict between the New National Party and the DA has made a mockery of the opposition.
The Freedom Front recently won the student election at the University of Pretoria. Is that an indication that young Afrikaners’ support is moving to the FF?
”At least they’ve been constant in their views. The fact that they had a right-wing reputation scared me off in the beginning, but more and more I feel that this is the party that will present my views the best,” one voter at Tukkies said.
According to Van Aardt race is fading as an issue. ”We are more concerned about promoting the economy and getting crime under control. We don’t have time to worry about the colour of someone’s skin.”
How do they feel about the loss of the power their parents held?
A barman on the East Rand, who only wants to be known as Jacques, says it does not concern him one way or the other. ”How can I feel I lost something I never had? I was 12 when FW de Klerk announced his changes. All I cared about was having the best bike in the neighbourhood. When the African National Congress took over, I was only 16. The only thing I lost was my virginity. But don’t tell my mom.”