I’m on the Afrikaner issue again! Looking back at my recent posts you’d think that I’m a flag-bearer for Afrikaner Nationalism, which I am not. I am an Afrikaner yes and proud of it too, but I’m very much a South-African and (as Roland Schoeman recently said ironically) an African as well.
With this in mind, I was pleasantly surprised by some recent research that has been done in South Africa. I would definitely recommend taking a look at the research in more detail at More Afrikaners back AA. By the way, the title of the article on fin24 once again shows the decline in journalistic standards at News24. It is misleading and is only designed to attract readers. Don’t let it put you off.
Essentially the research suggests that Afrikaners of all ages are much more positive about South Africa than they were 5 years ago. This doesn’t really surprise me from the younger generation, but I am very encouraged by the older (50+ years) attitudes. They are also much more positive. And even dramatically so in some cases.
This research also suggests that 51% of younger (16-24 year old) Afrikaners subscribe to the ideals of Socialism. Right now I have some major concerns over uncontrolled Capitalism, so this is very interesting to me. With that statement I can already hear some grumblings at home 🙂
One thing I doubt very much though is that the British media (John Simpson being exempt, of course) will ever mention this research. Surely all Afrikaners are inherently racist, intolerant & downright oafish!
Attie Heunis's Journey 
Hi Attie, I read that article too. But of course you know I’m disappointed that the young Afrikaners approve of socialism. I realise that what you are calling capitalism is really the unholy collaboration between governments and big business.
Socialism has just as many problems as big business capitalism but, as a former Marxist kafir-boetie, I see the free market as the lesser of two evils.
One of the people who helped change my mind was Leon Louw who wrote “South Africa: the Solution” 20 years ago. It’s out of print in the USA.
Hi Patrick,
Thanks for the comment. I appreciate your feedback.
South Africa: the Solution by Leon Louw was the first non-fictional book I ever read. Thanks for reminding me! I remember the cover distinctly. But I was way to young then to really make sense of things.
My dad still has this book at home. I’m definitely going to check it out again. I think I’ll be able to understand it better now.
I’ll let you know my thoughts.
You’re right about the unholy collaboration between governments and big business. I’m beginning to wonder if free market is always equal to capitalism though.
Places like Scandinavia are socialist, but they do have free markets as well.
I also agree with you that neither system is perfect, but right now I think that the US almost proves how bad capitalism can be. I realise you’re a self-confessed redneck, but you have to admit that not everything is what it should be in the US.
By the way, Thabo Mbeki is actually somewhat of a born-again capitalist. I know its an African version of it (tied in with the SACP and all!), but he does subscribe to some of the ideals.