Orania is planning to become fully independent by generating its own electricity 24/7 for residents, businesses and services. Photo: Willeklong / Flickr
‘Working and thriving’: Gayton McKenzie praises Orania following his visit
Gayton McKenzie said Orania is building infrastructure, technical schools and empowering people which is what SA should be doing.
Orania is planning to become fully independent by generating its own electricity 24/7 for residents, businesses and services. Photo: Willeklong / Flickr
Patriotic Alliance (PA) leader Gayton McKenzie has praised white-only town Orania in the Northern Cape following his visit.
McKenzie who visited Orania on Friday, 5 May and also spent the night said he had heard about the town from the media and on social media and he wanted to know more about the place beyond the racist tag.
GAYTON MCKENZIE PRAISES ORANIA
McKenzie said many including himself mistook Orania as something stuck in the past and that is far from it, the town is actually futuristic and it’s working hence the housing demand.
He revealed that the population of Orania currently stands at 3000 but there is a huge demand for housing and all the work is being done by white people; they make their own chocolates, toffee and beer.
“The town is growing at a phenomenal rate and house prices are extremely high hence you have international companies like Seef Properties competing with local property companies,” he said.
“Oranians constructed two private schools and a Technical College with plans of building a University soon. Afrikaans is the only language being taught and spoken here. The school parking lot resembles a showroom of Range Rovers, BMWs , Bakkies when parents pick up children,” he added.
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Orania also has huge factories, thriving restaurants, guest houses and investment arm to help people arriving to the town with nothing, according to the former Central Karoo District Mayor.
“Many, including myself, mistook this town as something stuck in the past. Far from it, this town is futuristic and it’s working, hence the housing demand,” McKenzie said.
According to the leader, the town is still experiencing load shedding but most roofs have solar panels and residents sell electricity back to the municipality.
Orania is reportedly in the process of purchasing a battery for the town costing around 25 million to become totally grid independent.
ALSO READ: Orania plans to generate its OWN electricity for residents 24/7
HISTORY OF THE CONTROVERSIAL TOWN
Orania was founded in 1991 by Carel Boshoff Snr, an Afrikaner intellectual and son-in-law of apartheid architect Hendrik Verwoerd.
The controversial town, which has schools, shops, salons, and other amenities, has been giving many politicians sleepless nights, with some vowing to have its status reviewed or closed down.
In 2021, the number of people living in Orania spiked by 16.5%. Since 2018, the amount of residents has skyrocketed by over 55%. The total population is now nearing 2 500 for the first time – and there are plans to go further.
ALSO READ: ‘Orania must NOT be tolerated’: Panyaza Lesufi calls for town closure
