
Orania – On Monday, the inhabitants of the Afrikaner-exclusive town of Orania in the Northern Cape marked “Promise Day,” a date that the rest of South Africa refers to as the “Day of Reconciliation.”
The festivities for Promise Day in Orania included sermons from local church leaders and the singing of Christian hymns.
While President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered his address promoting reconciliation and unity in the Western Cape, the Afrikaner community of Orania came together to honor “the commitment made by our ancestors at Bloedrivier in 1838.”
Previously known as Dingaan Day among Afrikaans speakers in South Africa, December 16 was officially recognized as Reconciliation Day after the end of apartheid in 1995.
This day acts as a national holiday aimed at promoting unity among South Africans of diverse racial backgrounds.
For the Orania residents, it is observed as a victory over black individuals and a pivotal moment for the promotion of Afrikaner nationalism.
On December 16, 1838, warriors under King Dingane kaSenzakakhona Zulu launched an attack on Afrikaner settlers by the banks of the Ncome River in KwaZulu-Natal.
However, the Afrikaners’ gunfire proved superior, resulting in the deaths of at least 3,000 of Dingane’s warriors.
The aftermath of this battle turned the river red with the blood of the fallen warriors, giving rise to the name Blood River.
According to Orania’s official Facebook page, the day also holds religious importance.
“Moreover, the day bears national significance as we, the Afrikaners, have honored this date due to the vow made annually since the events of 1838.
“Every year, we praise God for the miraculous victory granted to that group of Tractors [voortrekkers] against the formidable Zulus.
“In Orania, we treat this day as a Sabbath, including celebrations that consist of a worship service and a festival speech.”
Orania was founded in 1990 by Carel Boshoff, the son-in-law of apartheid architect Hendrik Verwoerd, along with other Afrikaner families.
Boshoff passed away in 2011.
Currently, Wynand Boshoff, Boshoff’s grandson, serves as a Member of Parliament for Freedom Front Plus (FF+) in the Northern Cape.
Boshoff’s grandfather envisioned a community for Afrikaners seeking self-determination and a place to live collectively.
Statues of apartheid figures like Verwoerd and Paul Kruger are prominently displayed in Orania, with the old South African flag flying on the town’s buildings.
Orania has its own currency called the Ora.
The ANC-led government has so far accepted the presence of Orania, and the town and its history have never been mentioned in the government’s Reconciliation Day addresses.
Ironically, about 700 km away in Vredendal, the Valley of Peace, President Ramaphosa was calling for unity among all South Africans in his speech.
He stated that Reconciliation Day was an “opportunity to remember and celebrate our journey towards nation-building, healing, social justice, and forgiveness.”
“This Day of Reconciliation is dedicated to ‘healing historical wounds and forging new futures’.
“Historically, this day – the 16th of December – has represented the wounds of our past.
“For some, it was a celebration of victory.
“For others, it was a painful reminder of conquest and dispossession.
“Since the inception of democracy, we have strived to remove symbols that divide us.
“We have chosen to commemorate the 16th of December as a day of reconciliation, celebrating our unity in diversity.”
Yet in Orania, no matter how much changes, the more things stay the same.