By Sandi Kwon Hoo
ANC election posters that were positioned in the main road to show that the ANC could "campaign anywhere," failed to aggravate residents during ANC Youth League President Julius Malema's trip to Orania on Saturday.
Provincial FF+ leader Carel Boshoff regarded the erection of the posters as a "non-issue".
"The ANC is free to put up as many posters as they wish in the main road, as other parties are doing. It is a non-event."
Boshoff however stated that permission would have to be obtained if any election posters were put up in residential areas or on private property.
He explained that the predominantly FF+ stronghold was well aware of the existence of the ANC.
"Perhaps their thinking was that our residents needed to be educated about the ANC but that is far from the truth. They choose to vote elsewhere as they believe that the ANC does not have their best interests at heart."
Boshoff said views and differences were shared regarding the need to protect the Afrikaner movement.
"Malema and his entourage assured us that they wanted us to still be involved, long after the elections have been finalised. We have always enjoyed a good relationship with the ruling party. While we want to work together with government, we will remain unwavering in our quest to preserve the Afrikaner nation."
He added that another concern was the future of Afrikaner youth in South Africa in light of affirmative action practices.
"We welcomed Malema's commitment that government was always willing to help communities who helped themselves. We do not believe in cultivating n expectancy of handouts but will rather find a means of putting food on the table."
Boshoff added that ANC President Jacob Zuma had expressed a keen interest to visit Orania to inspect their Ora monetary system, their economic development model.
"We look forward to his visit when he has more time to spare."
Various residents also welcomed Malema's visit to Orania as a positive development and stated that there was a wrong perception that the town was racist.
"Of course it would be wrong to say that it racism does not exist, it still exists everywhere, even within the same race groupings but on the whole we welcome the visit and the recognition it has brought to show our commitment towards co-operation."