Orania Movement wants US govt to assist in its ‘pursuit of Afrikaner self-determination’

JOHANNESBURG - The Orania Movement has appealed to the United States (US) government, seeking support and recognition as a distinct ethnic group within South Africa.  

This call for help comes amidst the recently passed Expropriation Act, which has prompted US President Donald Trump to sign an executive order cutting financial aid to the country and exploring refugee status for Afrikaners.  

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Head of the movement, Joost Strydom said they are not seeking to flee the country but rather to establish a self-governing territory within South Africa.  

According to Strydom, Orania’s vision for self-governance is not a new concept, as the Afrikaner territory was acknowledged in Parliament in the 1990s.  

“Our plea can be summarised in three words: ‘Help us here.’ Not necessarily with US tax dollars, but with the recognition of our legitimate pursuit. That is the pursuit of Afrikaner self-determination. The South African government even signed this as the Afrikaner Accord on Self-Determination, which states that Afrikaner self-determination is a legitimate pursuit.”