A lobby group of Afrikaner intellectuals warned the government on Thursday that the recent wave of bombings is a clear sign of serious alienation felt by Afrikaners in South Africa.
In a letter handed to the president’s office, the Group of 63 calls on President Thabo Mbeki to address the Afrikaner people and acknowledge their minority interest and protect the Afrikaans language.
The group says that they, like many other Afrikaans people, feel that no single political party is at present able to represent or satisfy Afrikaners in significant numbers. The anglicisation of universities and civil services has contributed to Afrikaans being eliminated in South African institutions.
”Afrikaners are not satisfied with the present situation. Thus far they have followed the way of least resistance, either by emigrating or by seeking the apparent protection afforded by their private world,” says Professor Danie Goosen, chairperson of the working committee.
But the group is concerned that the recent bombings are the most serious manifestation of Afrikaner alienation yet.”We are worried that increasing disaffection and alienation among Afrikaners may lead to further violence and instability,” says Goosen.
He says the group does not condone the bombings but can understand why certain people will hit back.