Matters creating support Volkstaat

1 matters creating support

1.1 crime
1.2 farm attacks
1.3 rise in unemployment
1.4 emigration
1.5 reduced political representation
1.6 endangered cultural heritage

matters creating support

dissatisfaction life in post-apartheid south africa cited indication of support idea of volkstaat among afrikaners. poll carried out volkstaat council among white people in pretoria identified crime, economic problems, personal security, affirmative action, educational standards, population growth, health services, language , cultural rights, , housing reasons support creation of volkstaat.

crime

crime has remained major problem in south africa since end of apartheid. according survey period 1998 - 2000 compiled united nations, south africa ranked second assault , murder (by means) per capita. total crime per capita 10th out of 60 countries in data set. crime has had pronounced effect on society: many wealthier south africans moved gated communities, abandoning central business districts of cities relative security of suburbs.

farm attacks

among rural afrikaners, violent crime committed against white farming community has contributed hardening of attitudes. between 1998 , 2001 there 3,500 recorded farm attacks in south africa, resulting in murder of 541 farmers, families or workers, during 3 years. on average more 2 farm attack related murders committed every week.

the freedom front interprets racial violence targeting afrikaners: in mid-2001 freedom front appealed united nations human rights commission place pressure on south african government murder of white south african farmers, had taken on shape of ethnic massacre . freedom front leader pieter mulder claimed farm attacks seemed orchestrated, , motive attacks not criminal; mulder further claimed definite anti-boer climate had taken root in south africa. people accused of murdering boers , afrikaners applauded supporters during court appearances .

the independent committee of inquiry farm attacks, appointed national commissioner of police, published report in 2003, however, indicating european people not targeted exclusively, theft occurred in attacks, , proportion of european victims had decreased in 4 years preceding report.

in 2010, several international news publications reported on 3,000 white farmers had been murdered since 1994. reportage increased when far-right political figure eugene terre blanche murdered on farm.

genocide watch has theorised farm attacks constitute warning signs of genocide against white south africans , has criticised south african government inaction on issue, pointing out murder rate them ( ethno-european farmers in report, included non-afrikaner farmers of european race) 4 times of general south african population. there 40,000 white farmers in south africa. since 1994 close 3 thousand farmers have been murdered in thousands of farm attacks, many being brutally tortured and/or raped. victims have been burned smoothing irons or had boiling water poured down throats.

in january 2015, afriforum reported there has been increase in farm attacks , murders in previous 5 years.

according afriforum deputy ceo ernst roets: “it important note not murdered on farms white people. on other hand, equally important note black farmers not subjected same levels of torture white counterparts.” based on this, consider more suitable farm terror , farm torture refer happening white south african farmers since end of apartheid regime.[1]

a spike in violent attacks on farmers in february 2017, led 1 of country s largest prayer meetings being held on 22-23 april 2017 in bloemfontein, attracting on 1,000,000 participants.

human rights watch has described general trend of escalation in farm attacks since 1994 , noted lack of government response them.

rise in unemployment

despite deterioration of situation since end of apartheid, afrikaners have 1 of highest rates of employment, , of job satisfaction, in country. white unemployment has experienced greatest proportional increase between 1995 , 2001: 19.7% compared national average of 27%. in 2001 228,000 economically active whites unemployed.

job satisfaction among employed afrikaners second of english-speaking europeans, survey in 2001 showing 78% of afrikaner respondents either satisfied , or satisfied , employment situation. worse situation under apartheid, when whites afforded preferential treatment in non-bantustans; hence, afrikaners unemployed tend support initiatives such volkstaat. in wingard s words, easy meat activists.

one in 5 white south africans emigrated during decade ending 2005 due crime , affirmative action. affirmative action implemented south african legislation, according business employees should reflect total demographic make of country, placing significant difficulty on white-africans enter job market.

emigration

according 1999 pre-election survey, 2.5% of afrikaner respondents emigrating, 26.4% leave if could, , 5.3% considering emigrating. majority, 64.9%, staying. survey suggested numerous afrikaners wanting emigrate, unable to, represented desire solution such volkstaat.

a survey released south african institute race relations during september 2006, indicated decline in south africa s white population estimated @ 16.1% decade ending 2005.

reduced political representation

the afrikaners, minority group in south africa, relinquished dominance of minority rule on south africa during 1994 democratic elections , play small role in south african politics. afrikaners, such members of volkstaat council, felt equal representation did not provide adequate protection minorities, , desired self-rule. volkstaat proposed 1 means of achieving this.

thabo mbeki, president of south africa, quoted afrikaner leader whom had been engaged in negotiations, 1 of our interlocutors expressed in following way afrikaner suffering hangover of loss of power resulting in despondency.

endangered cultural heritage

in 2002 number of towns , cities historic afrikaans names dating voortrekker times—such pietersburg , potgietersrus—had names changed, in face of popular opposition change. in same year government decided state departments had choose single language inter- , intra-departmental communication, compelling public servants communicate using english 1 another.

of 31 universities in south africa, 5 historically afrikaans (free state,

potchefstroom, pretoria, rand afrikaans university , stellenbosch). in mid-2002 national minister of education, kader asmal, announced afrikaans medium universities must implement parallel teaching in english, despite proposal government appointed commission 2 afrikaans universities should retained further afrikaans academic language. according government’s language policy higher education “the notion of afrikaans universities runs counter end goal of transformed higher education system .