Orania: A reversal of liberation struggles in Sub-Saharan Africa

BY Linda Tsungirirai Masarira

THE establishment and continued existence of Orania, a town in South Africa’s Northern Cape, stands as a stark affront to the monumental gains of the liberation struggles that have defined the history of sub-Saharan Africa.

This town, founded with the explicit goal of creating a Volkstaat — an all-White Afrikaner state— represents a troubling resurgence of apartheid-era ideologies that sought to segregate and subjugate based on race. Such a regressive step undermines the hard-fought battles for equality, justice, and human dignity that have been waged by Black Africans for centuries.

Orania, with its claim to preserve Afrikaner culture and language, is widely seen by scholars and observers as a “Whites-only” enclave. Despite the community’s denials, the reality remains that its very foundation is built upon exclusion and racial purity, echoing the darkest days of apartheid. The town’s existence is a slap in the face to the liberation struggles that aimed to dismantle the oppressive structures that apartheid and colonialism created. For Black Africans, who have endured centuries of subjugation, exploitation, and systemic racism, the presence of such a town is a painful reminder that the struggle for true liberation is far from over.

The subjugation of Black people in Africa has a long and harrowing history. From the transatlantic slave trade to the ravages of colonialism, and the brutal regime of apartheid, Black Africans have been denied their rights, their lands, and their humanity. These historical injustices were met with fierce resistance, culminating in liberation movements that sought to reclaim African dignity and sovereignty. These movements were not just about ending political oppression; they were about affirming the humanity and equality of Black people.

In the context of South Africa, the apartheid regime was dismantled through the relentless efforts of the African National Congress (ANC) and other liberation organizations. The vision was to create a “rainbow nation,” a country where all races could coexist in equality and harmony. However, the persistence of towns like Orania highlights the incomplete nature of this vision. The dream of a unified, non-racial South Africa is still marred by the vestiges of apartheid that continue to manifest in new forms.

It is deeply troubling that the current ANC-led coalition government, under President Cyril Ramaphosa, is poised to formally recognize Orania. This move, driven by a governance agreement with the Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus), is a betrayal of the revolutionary spirit that sought to eradicate apartheid and its ideologies. Previous South African presidents have rightly refused to acknowledge this racial enclave, understanding that doing so would betray the sacrifices made by millions in the struggle against racial oppression.

The recognition of Orania by the Northern Cape government is not just a local or provincial matter; it has profound implications for the entire continent of Africa. Africa is the homeland of Black people, a continent that has endured and overcome immense adversities. To allow the existence of a “Whites-only” town within this context is to condone a form of neo-apartheid, a regressive step that threatens to reverse the gains of liberation struggles across sub-Saharan Africa.

The ANC’s complicity in this matter must be condemned in the strongest terms. It is incumbent upon the government to reject any form of racial exclusivity and to work towards the genuine integration and upliftment of all its citizens. The legacy of the liberation struggle demands nothing less. The recognition of Orania is an affront to the principles of equality, justice, and human dignity that are enshrined in South Africa’s constitution and the broader African ethos.

In conclusion, the existence and potential formal recognition of Orania is a grave injustice. It undermines the liberation struggles that sought to end centuries of Black subjugation and to create a fair and equal society. It is imperative that the ANC and the South African government reaffirm their commitment to these principles by rejecting the racial exclusivity that Orania represents. The struggle for a truly liberated Africa continues, and it is a struggle that must be fought until all forms of racial oppression are eradicated.