TRC Final Report

Volume 6

Section 3

Chapter 6

Subsection 28

PART TWO: MOTIVES AND PERSPECTIVES

323. Threatened by the prospect of a non-racial, democratic South Africa, many sectors of the conservative Afrikaner community mobilised to challenge the impending changes and to protect a way of life and a sense of identity perceived to be under threat. One of the central objectives that emerged as a focus of the mobilisation of the right-wing groups was the creation of a volkstaat. In some senses the initiatiave represented a hearkening back to the idea of the Boere republics, confiscated by the British and finally lost in the turn of the century Anglo-Boer War. If the African liberation struggle in South Africa was a ‘just war’, so too was the struggle of Afrikaners to restore the Boer republics.

324. The Afrikaner Volksfront (AVF) and the Conservative Party took the lead in the struggle to achieve a volkstaat, defined as any land that could be set aside for Afrikaners to pursue their quest for self-determination. Some right-wing organisations, (such as the AWB, the Orde Boerevolk and the Boerestaat Party) were more interested in restoring the actual boundaries of the former Boer republics. While different groups differed on how to acquire this nation-state, all feared being ‘swamped’ in the new South Africa and, for a time, were prepared to unite against the ‘common enemy’. Most applications from members of the AWB refer to the common enemy as being the then NP government which appeared to be blocking their objective of self-determination.

325. Evidence before the Commission indicates that the strongest mobilisation for a nation-state, and the most aggressive acts in promoting this goal, occurred in the former Western Transvaal and on the West Rand. Fewer violations occurred in the territories now known as the Western and Northern Cape. AWB applicants told the Amnesty Committee that their aim was turn the Transvaal, the Orange Free State and Northern Natal into a Christian and Afrikaner Boer states.

326. The concept of ‘freedom’ related to the question of whether Afrikaner communities could be in control of their own destiny and to general constitutional protection. During the process of negotiations, therefore, the idea of ‘freedom’ became a recurring theme in the militant rhetoric of the right-wing leaders and a central motivating factor in the planning and execution of operations that resulted in gross violations of human rights.

327. At the time of the formation of the Afrikaner Volksfront (AVF), some Afrikaner groups felt that ‘an elite’ deal was being fashioned at the Kempton Park negotiations between the ANC and the NP in conjunction with big business. The deal threatened to marginalise Afrikaner demands for the preservation of Afrikaner culture and the recognition of their Christian-national aspirations.

328. At this time, when there seemed to be little hope in obtaining a volkstaat, there was talk of a ‘liberation war’ using violence as a means to achieve an end. However, no loss of life was intended. AWB leader, Eugene Terre’Blanche testified before the Commission that no orders for killing were given. In his submission to the Commission, General Constand Viljoen said that the AVF had no option but to organise resistance to secure the future of Afrikaners:

I submit that it was quite reasonable that the ethnic Afrikaners felt threatened to the point that they felt the proverbial back against the wall. … And we prepare d for conflict – not anarchy, not a total war but a well-planned campaign of re s i stance and mass action’ against the NP government and also against the ANC. ( Viljoen: submission)

329. General Viljoen unequivocally linked Afrikaner resistance with the transitional p rocess in the country.

It was further aimed as an anti-revolutionary power to counter the anarchy, intimidation and intolerance of the revolution a ry powerw, because in our opinion the government of the day had neither the will or the guts to do so. … Our action programme was necessary as the NP in the multi-party conference watered down the Afrikanerv o l k ’s right to self-determination, and our own bilateral process of negotiations with the ANC on Afrikaner self-determination did not achieve the desired results until shortly before the election. The degree of re v o- l u t i o nary climate called for an action stronger than the political debate; but it had to take place in support of the talks. (Viljoen, AVF: submission)

330. In summary, the Amnesty Committee heard that most of the acts for which members of right-wing organisations applied for amnesty were motivated by the following principles:

a the creation of a Christian Boerestaat on Boer territory for the Afrikaner Boerevolk;

b the promotion of an Afrikaner Boere consciousness of their white lineage and the importance of race purity and the maintenance of Afrikaner Boer culture;

c the struggle against the enemies of liberalism, humanism, Communism and Marxism ;

d the protection of Afrikaans;

e the maintenance of a Christian National Education;

f the return of the volk to the Covenant and the God of the Covenant;

g self - realisation within a Boerestaat;

h self-determination for a republic previously internally acknowledged as an independent state;

i the protection of the land against imperialism.

331. The CP maintained a strictly anti-Communist stance and upheld the need they identified to fight the threat of the African liberation movements, which they believed to be influenced by the SACP. According the CP member, Mr Clive Derby-Lewis, who applied for amnesty for the killing of SACP leader, Mr Chris Hani (see above):

The fact that the ANC/SACP wanted to control a l l of South Africa, was, we believe, the underlying problem of South Africa’s continual conflict. Most people want to be ruled by their own. This is an immutable international fact. Thus cons e rvative Whites were faced not only with an alien government if the ANC/SACP came to power, but a communist alien government .

332. Applications for amnesty from conservative Afrikaners and right-wingers frequently made reference to a romantic image of the Boer nation, derived fro m the history of seventeenth century free burgers, Trekkers and ultimately the Anglo-Boer War. A common theme in this history was the desire of conservative Afrikaner groupings to be in control of their own destiny and the wish to achieve self-determination through the creation of a volkstaat or Boerestaat.