Orania - There was no "shoot out" between the ANC Youth League and the Orania Movement on Saturday during a much anticipated visit by ANCYL president Julius Malema to the white Afrikaner enclave in the Northern Cape.
Orania Movement president Carel Boshoff junior said in describing the mood of the talks with Malema and an ANCYL delegation there was no "shoot out" or "search for control" attitude during the discussions.
Boshoff junior said they did encounter differences in aspirations and vision between the two groups but it would not exclude further talks with the ANCYL.
Boshoff and Malema agreed that the discussions were successful and that further discussions would be possible.
Malema said his expectations of the visit were that they would not be allowed to enter the village.
"We thought well-armed Afrikaners would stop the blacks."
He said ways must be found to reintegrate the Orania community back into South Africa.
Referring to the agricultural projects at Orania, Malema said the community did not have to do their work in isolation.
"What they do here they must do it outside."
Malema said he liked the attitude of the Orania community in that they were prepared to talk.
He said the ANC government would always be willing to help those who try and help themselves.
"They co-operate instead of working against each other," said Malema, adding it was a nice reality to be exposed to.
After the discussions Malema hanged about four ANC election posters, beneath Freedom Front Plus posters, alongside the main road through Orania.
"This is to show that people can campaign everywhere," Malema told a huge media contingent that had followed him to Orania.
Earlier, Boshoff junior in referring to Malema's plan to hang the posters jokingly said Malema should not expect much success for the party in the community.
Malema, who arrived in Orania early on Saturday, patiently stood and talked with Orania representatives and the media at the local filling station while waiting for the rest of the ANC delegation to arrive from Kimberley.
The ANCYL president told the chief executive of the Orania Movement Frans de Klerk that they (the ANC delegation) wanted a tour of the town to "understand the environment".
While waiting at the filling station, many ANCYL members took photos with their cell phones of their comrades in front of the Orania logo and signage written "Welkom in die Afrikanertuiste (Welcome at the Afrikaner's home)".
Another group after visiting the store examined the local currency, a ten Ora, which is the equivalent of a R10 note.
ANC chairman in the Northern Cape John Block and Carel Boshoff senior, a founder of Orania, also attended the discussions. - Sapa