The town’s population is soaring, and there’s a goal for it to reach 10 000 soon – Photo: Facebook
The town’s population is soaring, and there’s a goal for it to reach 10 000 soon – Photo: Facebook
You’ve probably read A LOT about Orania this week. The whites-only enclave in the Northern Cape has come in for some heavy criticism from serving politicians, with Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi calling for a resolution that would see the community ‘cease to exist’. However, it seems the town isn’t going away any time soon.
Orania population is GROWING
In fact, as it stands, Orania is experiencing a significant cycle of growth – not least in its population numbers and newly-built houses. Demand for accommodation here has risen alongside the number of full-time residents, and even the local schools have had to deal with a substantial increase in new starters.
The 27-year-old project, deemed controversial by many, insists it has a right to self-determination. Orania also finds itself being compared to the current CapeXit movement, which seeks to make the Western Cape its own independent country. However, groups lobbying for secession in the southwest insist that their cause is not based on race.
Panyaza Lesufi vs the whites-only town
Over the past seven days, Lesufi has intensified his campaign against Orania. After insisting that it ‘must go’, and calling its existence ‘nonsense’, he drew the ire of the citizens within the isolated settlement. Indeed, the CEO of the Orania Movement lambasted the MEC for his ‘unimpressive record’ in government.
Panyaza Lesufi, therefore, perhaps won’t be too enthused to hear that his least-favourite town is experiencing something of a boom. As these figures from the recently-released 2020 Census show, there are now more ‘Oranians’ than ever before.
Orania Census figures revealed:
- During 2020, Orania’s population grew by 16.5%.
- As of 31 December 2020, the number of residents in the town rose to 2 066 Africans.
- The number of households increased from 705 to 831 – a growth of 17.8%.
- Since 2016, the number of learners and students in Orania has grown by an annual average of 18.1%
ORANIA SENSUS 2020 UITSLAE BEKEND!
— Joost Strydom (@StrydomJoost) October 16, 2021
ORANIA CENSUS 2020 DATA!
Bevolkingsgroei / population growth:
16.5%
