Abstract
In the 60 years since its initial establishment, two clearly distinguishable periods emerge when analysing the history of Orania. During the first period from 1963 to 1990, Orania was a town under the ownership and control of the former Department of Water Affairs (Orania I). The second period commenced in 1991, with the establishment of Orania II as a white Afrikaner enclave. Orania II has now outgrown its establishment years as an Afrikaner enclave; hence the notion of Orania III as the next step in the town’s development.
The aim of this research is to provide an overview of academic literature on Orania II and other literature to assess pointers for the town’s further development.
The establishment of Orania commenced with the construction of a town on the farm Vluytjeskraal, with a nearby coloured neighbourhood, Grootgewaagd, and a compound for black workers. The town was renamed Orania in 1965, with Grootgewaagd retaining its name until 1991. Orania and Grootgewaagd were built to house the employees (and their families) of the Department who worked on the irrigation canal scheme from the Vanderkloof Dam at the time. After the completion of most of the parts of the irrigation project, the town depopulated. It was purchased in 1991 for the purpose of developing a white Afrikaner enclave.
Very little is known of the town, town development and other events before 1991. Orania I and its satellites (Grootgewaagd and the compound) as a small town were simply not interesting enough to attract attention. Orania only appeared on the horizon of the media and academic researchers after the town was purchased for the establishment of an Afrikaner enclave, called Orania II in this research.
Orania II is organised on the basis of a share block scheme and residents purchase properties in a share block. This ensures a degree of control over the inflow of new residents, who have to apply for residency. This system of control ensures that Orania II retains its identity as a white Afrikaner enclave.
The population of Orania II grows by about 9% per annum. Owing to the increase in the number of the town’s residents, the development of business enterprises and housing followed. During this period of growth of Orania II, tensions among inhabitants developed about wide-ranging aspects such as schools in the town and church congregations. This leaves little doubt about the fact that the development of Orania III will not always be an easy process.
Orania II has its own system of local town management, which is one of the unique aspects of the town. This structure of local management entrusts considerable authority to the town council and supports the unique nature of Orania II. In this research, local government by the town council is identified as an important pointer to be retained for Orania III. The town council is also responsible for the disciplinary code and rules of the town.
Orania II applies the principle of own labour utilisation (“selfwerksaamheid” in Afrikaans). With little exception, only residents of Orania II are permitted to work in the town. This principle supports the town’s character as an Afrikaner enclave.
The OSK Co-operative Bank is the local bank in Orania II. The bank grants home loans on properties purchased within a share block, thus supporting the domestic residential property market in Orania II. Without this availability of capital, property development and transfer will be severely curtailed.
Capital formation is a challenge in Orania II, with the town generating limited savings. The Solidarity Movement supports investment in Orania II through the Orania Development Company. Economic development in Orania II will be severely limited without this continued support of the Solidarity Movement.
The aim of growing self-determination is also a pointer emerging from the analysis of Orania II. This objective is actively supported by the majority of the town’s inhabitants.
Other unique aspects of Orania II that Orania III can also build on pertain to community development and cultural activities. This includes the application of several public holidays unique to Orania II as well as town festivals.
Orania II is the only town in South Africa with a “community currency”. The Orania Sakekamer (chamber of commerce) issues ora coupons as vouchers linked to the South African rand. Vouchers can be used in cash transactions in the town. As the issuance of currency is a monopoly power of the South African Reserve Bank, the ora cannot be called a currency. The ora is abbreviated as Φ and is issued at a rate of Φ1,00 to R1,00. Residents prefer describing amounts in ora, rather than in rand, but rand is used in this research to indicate values, except where otherwise specified.
Research data collected at the end of 2021 was used to estimate income levels in the town. The total personal annual income of Orania II was estimated at some Φ300 million. Annual household income in 2021 was estimated at some Φ200 million. Resolving this difference in estimates is beyond the scope of this research, but the estimates nevertheless provide a basis for future calculation of growth in economic activity in Orania III. Research data for the turnover of 220 businesses in Orania II was also collected by the end of 2021. Annual business turnover as at that date is estimated at some Φ282 million.
The ideal of increasing Orania’s population to 10 000 from the current level of around 2 875 will take around 15 years at the historical population growth rate. However, growth of this magnitude can change the character of Orania III, compared to the current nature of Orania II. For this reason, the identified pointers must be retained to ensure that the character of Orania III remains true to the objectives at the time of the purchase of the town in 1991.
Keywords: Afrikaans; church associations; cultural festivals; economic conditions; establishment; ora; Orania; OSK Co-operative Bank; own labour; public holidays; schools; self-determination