Representatives of two institutions of the Solidarity Movement, AfriForum and the Afrikaner Foundation, this week attended the National Conservatism Conference (NatCon 4) in the American capital, Washington, DC. Ernst Roets, Executive Director of the Afrikaner Foundation, was invited to this conference as a guest speaker. In his speech, Roets emphasised the Solidarity Movement’s do-it-yourself successes and the West’s rediscovery of the Afrikaner community.

He also pointed out that, after the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902), Afrikaners discovered that community institutions were the most sustainable way to ensure a future for the community. However, in the second half of the twentieth century, Afrikaners’ emphasis shifted from building community institutions to building a strong state to find solutions to the country’s problems. In the past few decades, Afrikaners have rediscovered the power of community institutions.

“The rest of the world can learn a lot from Afrikaners in this regard,” says Roets. In his presentation, he explained that a community only thrives through its institutions and that strong institutions can empower a community – even if the state does not favour them.

In addition to Roets’ presentation, he and AfriForum’s Head of Public Relations, Ernst van Zyl, held several discussions and meetings with opinion makers, politicians and organisations interested in the current state of affairs in South Africa and how minority groups, such as Afrikaners, in particular, respond to circumstances.

According to Van Zyl, there has been a clear shift in the international zeitgeist regarding South Africa and Afrikaners.

“Ten years ago, those we encountered internationally knew little about South Africa’s crises. Five years later, they became aware of some of the crises and wanted to discuss them in more depth. Today they are aware of the crises and their extent and now they are interested in our solutions,” concludes Van Zyl.

Roets and Van Zyl leave for New York on 17 July for the official American launch of the Afrikaner Foundation. Further meetings and appointments with established and prospective friends of Afrikaners will also be undertaken here.

The Afrikaner Foundation is a new institution in the Solidarity Movement that aims to mobilise practical support for the work of the institutions of this movement from abroad.