There was no ”shoot out” between the ANC Youth League and the Orania Movement on Saturday during a much anticipated visit by ANCYL president Julius Malema to the white Afrikaner enclave in the Northern Cape.
Describing the mood of the talks, Orania Movement president Carel Boshoff Jnr said there had been no ”shoot out” or ”search for control”.
Boshoff said they encountered differences in aspirations and vision but did not rule out further talks.
Malema said he had expected to be turned away.
”We thought well armed Afrikaners would stop the blacks.”
He said ways must be found to reintegrate the Orania community back into South Africa.
Referring to the agricultural projects at Orania, Malema said the community did not have to undertake their work in isolation.
”What they do here they must do it outside.”
Malema said he liked the attitude of the Orania community in that they were prepared to talk.
He said the ANC government would always be willing to help those who helped themselves.
”They cooperate instead of working against each other,” said Malema, adding it was a nice reality to be exposed to.
After the discussions Malema hung four ANC election posters beneath Freedom Front Plus posters next to the main road through the settlement.
”This is to show that people can campaign everywhere,” Malema told a huge media contingent that had followed him into Orania.
Earlier, Boshoff told Malema not to expect much success for his party among the community.
Malema, who arrived in Orania early on Saturday, talked with Orania representatives and the media at a petrol station while waiting for the rest of the ANC delegation to arrive from Kimberley.
Malema told Frans de Klerk, the chief executive of the Orania movement, that the ANC delegation wanted a tour of the town to ”understand the environment”.
Many ANCYL members took photographs of Malema with their cellphones in front of the Orania logo and sign, which reads: ”Welkom in die Afrikaner tuiste (Welcome to the Afrikaner home)”.
Another group examined the local currency, a ten Ora, which is the equivalent of a R10 note. – Sapa