The far right-wing Boerestaat Party of South Africa announced on Wednesday it intends registering as a political party on December 16.
The group, which was formed in the mid-1980s, said it wanted to become a fully fledged political party because it was feeling marginalised as an extra-parliamentary group.
”We want to register first, and then we’ll decide whether or not we want to take part in elections,” said leader Coen Vermaak, who had in the past called on voters to boycott national elections.
The group has given notice in the Government Gazette that it is planning to register as a political party. The Independent Electoral Commission said it had not yet received an application but that the first step to register as a party was to give notice of the intention in the Government Gazette.
The Boerestaat Party was started in 1986 by Robert van Tonder and originally called for the restoration of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek and the Orange Free State, as well as the secession of these territories from South Africa.
It has seen several controversial figures in its top ranks, including Piet ”Skiet” Rudolph.
In 2002 police investigating the activities of the Boeremag raided the party’s offices in Krugersdorp.
The organisation also took part in several large protests by the Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging (AWB) in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Most recently it has been noted for adopting controversial views on Aids, questioning its existence. ”Condoms can only stop sperm cells and not viruses,” it said about a message to use condoms to prevent HIV/Aids.
The party proclaims on its website it promotes and increases the number of the Boerevolk (Boer nation).
”The Boerestaat Party understands that the numbers [of African people] in the country is overwhelming, therefore we would focus on increasing our [white people considered Boers] numbers immediately,” it states on the site.
It aims to ban abortion and any contraceptives such as the pill and other precautionary measures.
It considers condoms as evil, and anyone who wants to use them and other contraceptives cannot become a member of the party.
The party also has views on the economy, justice, agriculture and other issues.
”The party does not aim to become the government of the day, because it will never get the support of all South Africans. The party aims to increase [the numbers of] the Boer Nation, which would eventually lead to independent freedom,” the party said on its site. — Sapa