Orania traditional leaders tribes

Two leaders from tribal communities went to Orania this week, in a bid to learn more about self-governance – Photo: Orania / Facebook

Traditional leaders visit Orania – as tribes look to build ties with town

This may catch a few by surprise. A delegation of traditional leaders visited Orania this week – here’s what brought the them to the enclave.

Orania traditional leaders tribes

Two leaders from tribal communities went to Orania this week, in a bid to learn more about self-governance – Photo: Orania / Facebook

There’s no town more controversial in South Africa than Orania. Although the enclave is home to just 2 500 people, it was initially built as a ‘whites-only’ settlement, open exclusively to Afrikaners. But it seems that this Northern Cape community is finding friends in unexpected places.

Orania opens its doors to traditional leaders and tribes

That’s because two senior traditional leaders visited Orania on a diplomatic mission this week. Representatives from the AmaBhele kaJamangile – a Xhosa-speaking community in Maclear that strives for autonomy – were the first to touch base with town officials.

Then, the King of the Seleka Barolong – a Tswana group from near Bloemfontein who have deep-rooted ties with Afrikaans heritage – also met with leadership in Orania. The purpose of the visit was for both tribes ‘to learn more about self-determination’.

The diplomatic gathering has been hailed as a success by Orania’s top officials. | Photo: Joost Strydom / Twitter

Traditional leaders ‘wanting to learn from Orania’

In a statement shared by Orania on Tuesday, they claimed that the traditional leaders wanted to emulate the purported successes of this autonomous region, which is now putting service delivery in other municipalities to shame.

“Orania received diplomatic visitors Bhelekazi Mabandla – princess and diplomatic representative of the AmaBhele kaJamangile – who lives near Maclear, and tribal king Gaboilelwe Moroka of the Seleka Barolong of Thaba’Nchu, east of Bloemfontein.”

“The aim of the visit is to promote these two tribes’ own efforts towards autonomy and self-determination. Their request was to learn more from Orania as an example of a community that has already achieved quite a few successes on the road to growing self-determination.”

Orania Beweging

Tribes seeking self-determination ask for guidance

Orania was in the headlines earlier this week, after it was confirmed to have the only landfill site in the Northern Cape that is compliant with national standards. Despite its contentious existence, the isolated suburb prides itself on respectable governance.

It was the standout performer amongst 18 refuse collection services – and those looking to build their own communities are now using Orania as a positive example to guide them.