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Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)

A Deep Divide Over Orania’s Existence

Failed Talks Highlight Deep-Rooted Differences

Orania Residents Speak Out

The Broader Context of Orania’s Controversy

The EFF’s Planned March and What It Means

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in the Northern Cape is pushing ahead with its planned march to Premier Dr. Zamani Saul’s offices on 22 April 2025 to raise their dissatisfaction about the existence of Orania in the province. The party has called for a review of the government’s stance on the self-determination of Orania, a predominantly Afrikaans town, arguing that it undermines national unity and perpetuates apartheid-era ideologies. This comes after a meeting on Friday, 11 April 2025, between the EFF, the Orania Movement, and the Freedom Front Plus (FFPlus) failed to reach consensus, with the EFF vowing to continue its fight until Orania is abolished.

Orania, a small town in the Northern Cape with a population of about 3,500 people—roughly a third of whom are children—has long been a point of contention in South Africa. Established in 1991 by Afrikaner nationalists, the town operates as a private entity and promotes itself as a cultural homeland for Afrikaners, focusing on preserving their language, traditions, and way of life. However, the EFF sees Orania as a symbol of division, accusing it of being a cover for preserving apartheid ideologies. In a statement released on 9 April 2025, EFF Northern Cape Provincial Chairperson Shadrack Tlhaole declared, “The narrative that the existence of Orania is amongst others about the preservation of Afrikaner culture is just a smokescreen for a hidden agenda to preserve apartheid ideologies with hope that someday, apartheid will be order of the day.”