The Afrikaners have been a member of the UNPO since 2008.

The Afrikaners’ distinct identity and their complex history in South Africa underscore their status as unique people. While the end of apartheid brought much-needed change, the subsequent historical baggage have left many Afrikaners feeling marginalized. Ensuring that Afrikaners have the ability to preserve their culture and participate fully in the political process could help mitigate tensions and contribute to a more inclusive and equitable South African society. The UNPO advocates for these rights, emphasizing the importance of fostering reconciliation and ensuring that the Afrikaner community or any other community in the country, is not left behind in the new South Africa.

The UNPO secretariat works for the rights of the Afrikaners people as a whole, collaborating with different civil society organizations, groups and representatives from the Afrikaners community. However, the main organization representing the rights of the Afrikaners people  within the UNPO membership and with voting rights at the General Assembly is the Freedom Front Plus. The Freedom Front Plus has historically pushed for the end of apartheid and equality among peoples, including minorities, in South Africa. You can read more about the Freedom Front Plus here. 

The Afrikaners people are a unique ethnic group in South Africa who  trace their roots to European settlers who arrived in South Africa in the seventeenth century. Over time, this community developed their own language, national identity, history and religion. Since the end of the apartheid in South Africa, the difficulty in reconciling the divided nation has led to violations of Afrikaner cultural, linguistic, and political rights which have not been adequately addressed by the government or covered in the media. The lack of representation in political and cultural spheres in South Africa and globally prevents the Afrikaner community from voicing these concerns effectively. 

Their language, Afrikaans, evolved from Dutch, and their cultural identity has been shaped by influences from French Huguenots and German settlers. Afrikaners primarily reside in South Africa, but significant numbers are also found in other African countries and abroad due to emigration driven by concerns over discrimination and “farm attacks.” This migration has contributed to a broader trend of skilled labor leaving the country for destinations like the United Kingdom and Australia.

The Afrikaners history is marked by both their role in establishing the apartheid regime and their complex position in post-apartheid South Africa. 

Segregation policies, tracing back to 1905 when the British-controlled government separated public schools along ethnic divisions, were oftentimes complemented by discriminatory legislation. In 1923, the Pass Laws were adopted, initiating the enactment of Apartheid laws that would profoundly impact the country’s political trajectory. 

For several decades, a relative status quo was maintained until the freedoms of black South Africans were further restricted in 1948. The Apartheid system finally came to an end towards the end of the century through the efforts of State President F.W. de Klerk, Nelson Mandela and others. In 1992, a  “yes” vote in the organized referendum paved the way to the democratic elections of 1994, which were to make Mandela the first post-apartheid president of South Africa.

The end of apartheid brought significant positive political changes, but also new challenges for the Afrikaner community. While they were positive in its intentions to address the deep and structural inequalities of the Apartheid-era, some of these programs have unintended consequences for the Afrikaner minority, a large proportion of whom are low-income farmers and working class citizens.

The Afrikaners are currently unrepresented in many aspects of South Africa’s political landscape, as their concerns are often overshadowed by the broader narrative of redressing apartheid’s legacy. Despite constitutional guarantees, Afrikaners feel their needs are overlooked, particularly regarding cultural preservation and self-determination.

According to Freedom Front Plus, the Afrikaners are experiencing increasing violations of their cultural, linguistic and political rights. The issues they face are not sufficiently covered in national media and the government generally ignores the needs of the Afrikaner population. Meanwhile, however, the South African Constitution guarantees the right to a cultural life of one’s choice (S.30), for general cultural, religious and linguistic rights (S.31) and for the right to self-determination (S.235). It is on the basis of these constitutional rights that the Freedom Front Plus aims to protect the cultural heritage of the Afrikaners, as well as indigenous cultures and diversity in South Africa as a whole, while ensuring their voice within the national discourse.

The right to self-determination for the Afrikaners, as enshrined in the South African Constitution, could help address the feelings of disenfranchisement and alienation within the Afrikaner community, fostering greater inclusion and reconciliation. By empowering Afrikaners to have a say in their cultural and linguistic affairs, it could contribute to a more balanced and harmonious society in South Africa, where diversity is truly celebrated and all communities feel represented.