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Gratton-Karise

Thursday 2 May 2024

The rise of Afrikaner nationalism and the definition of the Volk.

The rise of Afrikaner nationalism and the ‘Volk’

It was only in the 20th century that the term ‘Afrikaner’ came to be used to describe a
group of people who spoke Afrikaans. At this time, the National Party created a form
of exclusive ethnic nationalism to protect the Afrikaner ‘people’ or volk. It is important
to remember that before the 20th century, Afrikaners in the Cape Colony were often
disunited and fractured. This was shown by the splintered trekker parties during the
Great Trek.
By the end of the 19th century, Britain’s attempts to expand into the interior had
aroused strong nationalists feeling in the Boer states. The discovery of mineral wealth
(first diamonds and then gold) in the Boer territories led to an influx of foreigners
(particularly British) into the interior. As a result The British decided to annex the South
African republic (ZAR) in 1877. The sense of national identity was further strengthened
amongst the Afrikaners when they challenged the British in the two Anglo-Boer Wars
(1880 – 81; 1899 – 1902).
The second Anglo-Boer War, or South African War, was a particularly important factor
in building Afrikaner nationalism as Afrikaners witnessed the pain and suffering of their
women and children in the British concentration camps.
The Afrikaans language movement and programme of economic affirmative action in
the 1920s and 1930s
The rise of the Afrikaans language movement
In 1910 South Africa gained political independence from Britain. Boer leaders
dominated the new government. Louis Botha and Jan Smuts were both ex-Boer
generals. Botha became the first prime minister of South Africa and Smuts his deputy.
Both were committed to reconciling white English and Afrikaans-speaking South
Africans.
In 1914 exclusivist Afrikaners gained a political voice for the future when the National
Party was formed under General J.B.M. Hertzog.
Hertzog, as leader of the Pact coalition government (National Party and Labour Party)
in the 1920s, set about formalising Afrikaans culture and language. In 1925 Afrikaans
replaced Dutch as an official language and the Bible was translated into Afrikaans.
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Afrikaner social and cultural movements

The Afrikaner Broederbond
The Afrikaner Broederbond (AB) was a ‘secret’ organisation. Its name meant the
league of Afrikaner brothers. It was formed in 1918 and played a key role in protecting
and promoting Afrikaner identity and nationalism. Its members were young
professionals, teachers and ministers of the Dutch Reformed Church. Its main aim
was to further and strengthen Afrikaner nationalism in South Africa through culture, to
promote Afrikaner businesses and to take control of government.
The Afrikaner Broederbond supported Hertzog and the National Party initially and then
threw its support behind D.F. Malan and the Purified National Party (PNP) which was
formed in 1934. Afrikaner Broederbond members dominated the membership of
Malan’s new party. Every prime minister and state president of South Africa between
1948 and 1994 was a member of the Afrikaner Broederbond.
The Federasie van Afrikaanse Kultuurvereniginge (FAK – Federation of
Afrikaans Cultural Societies)
In the 1930s the Broederbond worked closely with an umbrella organisation known as
the Federasie van Afrikaanse Kultuurvereniginge (FAK – Ferderation of Afrikaans
Cultural Societies) to promote Afrikaans culture.
The Media
Die Burger newspaper was started in Cape Town on 26 July 1915 to promote Afrikaner
nationalism, with D.F. Malan as its editor. In 1937, Die Transvaler newspaper was
established in the Transvaal, also with the aim of promoting Afrikaner nationalism. H.F.
Verwoerd was the editor.
The Great Trek centenary celebrations
A significant event in 1938 was the celebration of the centenary of the Great Trek,
which helped to promote Afrikaner unity and pride in their culture.
Strong feelings of patriotism were inspired in many Afrikaners as they witnessed re-
enactments of the Great Trek on the streets of Pretoria. People dressed in voortrekker
clothes and drove ox-wagons from Pretoria to the Voortrekker Monument, which had
been built to mark the occasion.
Economic affirmative action in the 1920's and 1930's
The Great Depression had a big impact on South Africa and many Afrikaners were
forced off their land and into the cities. As many of them were unskilled, they found
that only low-paying manual labour jobs were open to them. The 1932 Carnegie
Commission of enquiry into white poverty found that between 200 000 and 300 000
whites were 'poor whites'. Most of them were Afrikaners and it became hugely
important for the future of the Volk that these poverty- stricken Afrikaners be rescued.
The Afrikaner Broederbond and the FAK stepped in, along with Afrikaner businesses,
to resolve the poor white problem and to promote social upliftment through Afrikaner
unity. Economic upliftment was assisted by two new organisations: the Federale
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Volksbeleggings (FVB) and the Reddingsdaadbond (RDB, or Rescue League). These

institutions aimed to mobilize capital and encourage businessmen, workers, and
Afrikaner commercial farmers to pool their financial resources and regain control of
their savings. Financial institutions like Volkskas and Sanlam were established for this
purpose.

The Broederbond also promoted volkskapitalisme (people's capitalism) which aimed

to take control of the economy and bring it into line with the needs of the Afrikaners.
Its great achievement was that it accomplished this social and economic upliftment
without using state resources. All "proper Afrikaners" had 10 duties. Among these
were: every Afrikaner must become a shareholder in an Afrikaans credit organization;
every Afrikaner must be a policyholder of an Afrikaans insurance company; and every
Afrikaner must save and invest in an Afrikaans institution.
Definition of the Volk (background)
The "Volk" is the Afrikaans word for "people". The Volk of the National Party meant
white Afrikaans-speaking South Africans. In Afrikaner nationalist ideology, the "Volk"
as a whole was more important than the individual.
The Afrikaner "Volk" ideology aimed to unite Afrikaners on the basis of race and
language. They did not interpret history along class lines. They regarded the Volk as
a 'nation' as more important than the Afrikaner's economic or social position in society.
Volk in relation to class and race issues in education.
The National Party government wanted to improve the education of the Volk (all
Afrikaners - both middle class and working class). There were many working class
Afrikaners and the National Party made laws that stated that they were to be educated
in whites-only schools. They were taught in Afrikaans, by Afrikaans-speaking teachers,
from Afrikaans textbooks. Education was aimed at creating unity of the Volk as a
'race'. Heroic stories of the Great Trek and suffering during the South African War
were taught in History lessons.
The Bantu Education Act (1953) created a separate and unequal education system in
government schools. Bantu education served the interests of white supremacy. It
denied black people access to the same educational opportunities and resources
enjoyed educational opportunities and resources enjoyed by white South Africans. .
A racist educational system meant that black children were schooled to become
labourers for whites. The children of the Afrikaner Volk were equipped to take up
skilled and professional jobs.
Volk in relation to labour
Many Afrikaner farmers were forced off the land during the economic depression after
the First World War and the Great Depression in 1929.1929. They moved with their
families into the towns, but did not have the skills to find well-paying work. Many South
Africans were living in poverty, but special attention was paid to white poverty. White
poverty contradicted the ideology of racial superiority. "The Poor White Problem in
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South Africa: Report of the Carnegie Commission" (1932) was a study of poverty
among whites, and it recommended of poverty among whites, and it recommended
that special protection should be given to white labour. After 1948, the National Party
continued to rescue poor Afrikaners as they were part of the 'volk'.

New Afrikaner trade unions were formed.

The Afrikaner Bond van Mynwerkers (Mineworkers) and the Spoorbond were created
to look after Afrikaner workers on the railways. The National Party made efforts to
bridge the gap between rich and poor Afrikaners.
Volk in relation to religion
Afrikaner religion comes from Protestant practices of the Dutch Reformed Church of
Holland. They believed that the Dutch Reformed Church should influence government
policy and that the Volk should remain 'pure and separate'.Volk should remain 'pure
and separate'. Afrikaner nationalists believed that the Volk were chosen by God to
bring civilization and Christianity to 'uncivilized' and 'heathen' black people. Prime
Minister D.F. Malan was a Dutch Reformed Minister.
Constitutional independence from Britain−but still part of the British Empire
 Recognition of Afrikaans and flag question − in 1924 when Hertzog, leader of the
NP became Prime Minister who were a fierce fighter for Afrikaner nationalism
 South Africa’s sovereign independence − with the Balfour Declaration at the
Imperial Conference in 1926
 Role of the “Volk” − promoted the exclusive interest of “true” Afrikaners
“highlighted” events of volks-history.
 Centenary celebration − bind and strengthen Afrikaner nationalism − led to
formation of Ox- wagon sentinel.
 Second World War − South Africa fought on the side of Britain – many Afrikaner
nationalists did not support this and use violent methods to block South Africa’s
participation
 1948 elections − Afrikaner nationalists appealed to Afrikaner voters to vote for the
NP – Apartheid.

Nationalism in power: towards Apartheid

The National Party under D.F. Malan, riding on the wave of a recovery of Afrikaner
pride in the 1930's and 1940's, took control of the political future of Afrikaners.
Although there were some parallels between Afrikaner nationalism and German
Nazism, there were also important differences. Afrikaner nationalism was based on
the principles of Christian nationalism and did not try to exterminate those it considered
inferior. The National Party promoted racial segregation as a desirable and beneficial
ideology. It intended each 'racial group' to develop separately.
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The 1948 election and move towards Apartheid

White labour shortages during World War Two encouraged the growth of an urban
black labour force, which competed with Afrikaners for jobs.
For this and other reasons, the National Party fought the 1948 election with the slogan
of 'swart gevaar' the 1948 election with the slogan of 'swart gevaar' (black danger).

After the National Party won the election, it brought in its policy of Apartheid.
The policy was strictly implemented and aimed at the complete geographic, social,
educational, and workplace separation of all races.