André Visagie, the Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging secretary general, who gained notoriety after the “touch me on my studio” scrap on e.tv, has quit the AWB to launch a new party, Geloftevolk Republikeine (Republican Covenant Nation).
He grew frustrated with what he saw as the “slow tempo” of the movement after the murder of former AWB leader Eugene Terre’Blanche.
The herstigde (reformed) AWB of Visagie is expected to be more right wing than the AWB. He told the Mail & Guardian the new organisation would work for bekering (salvation), beskerming (protection) and bevryding (liberty).
“The pace at which the AWB moved after Terre’Blanche’s death was just too slow in the light of the threatening xenophobia white people are facing, as well as the growing wave of crime. We can’t afford to drag our feet any more.”
He said the new organisation would start training people immediately to react to the “expected violence” that would erupt after the World Cup.
Fellow rightwingers describe Visagie as more militant than current AWB leader Steyn van Ronge. “He would certainly be more willing to act, even with violence, if the situation arose,” one said.
Visagie described himself as more resolute than Van Ronge. “If attacked, I would not hesitate to use violence,” he said. “If you are under attack, you must fight.”
Van Ronge and Visagie have been at each other’s throats over leadership since Van Ronge declared in March that he had a letter from Eugene Terre’Blanche appointing him the new AWB leader.
Visagie disputed this letter. He was also worried about the large-scale infiltration of the AWB by national intelligence agents.
He said there was overwhelming support for the new organisation and that he was travelling the length and breadth of the country talking about the new direction of the right.