The Emergence of Ultraconservatives in Ermelo 1960-1994 Carolien
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From Apartheid to Democracy: The Emergence of Ultraconservatives in Ermelo 1960-1994 Carolien Greyling Thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Masters in History at the University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg, South Africa 2017 Construction at the Pet Dam in Ermelo. Found in Ermelo Municipal Archives, Ermelo. White management inspecting black labour busy with construction work at the Pet Dam at the dawn of the industrial and economic development which came to define the region. Acknowledgements I am most thankful to the financial support from the National Research Foundation Chair in History. I would like extend my gratitude and appreciation for the support and supervision of Professor Noor Nieftagodien who provided me with insightful criticism. The help and support of Dr Paul Stewart and Dr Christopher Fotheringham has been invaluable with their assistance in the corrections phase. This research would not have been possible without the inspiration of Phillip Bonner, who has been a mentor for many scholars throughout his long and fruitful career. The support and assistance of my parents Mimi and Ferdi Greyling has been invaluable and the completion of this dissertation would not have been possible without them. Finally, this thesis is dedicated to Zahn Gower and all other support staff at WITS University, a group of people who are often ignored and seldom appreciated. DECLARATION: I declare that this thesis is my unaided work. It is submitted for the degree of Master of Arts at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. It has not been submitted before for any other degree or examination in any other university. Carolien Greyling -------------------------------- day of ---------------------------------, 2017 Abstract This dissertation examines and explains the underlying social, ideological and economic reasons why the white population of Ermelo gravitated to a politics of the extreme in the years 1960-1994. In contrast to commonly held views that the growth of ultraconservatism correlates neatly with economic trends this dissertation argues that ultraconservatism in Ermelo emerged due to varying complex and at times contradictory reasons. By examining white society at the time of conquest in the 1860s, it is argued that whites in this area formed racist views from the time of settlement as the commercial success of their newly acquired farmland was dependant on the exploitation of cheap black labour. The focus of this study is however, on the emergence of new ultraconservative political parties from the late 1960s to the early 1990s which formed in reaction to National Party and local political dynamics. It is argued that the bedrock of conservative views was moulded during the time of initial settlement, however, for various reasons throughout the years these views were held and propagated. This study is a local history of ultraconservatism in Ermelo and illuminates particularities in the town’s white politics within the context of profound changes in Afrikaner politics nationally. White working-class workers and farmers supported ultraconservatives while white business people supported the NP and their politics of reform. This dissertation made use of public and private archives as well as life history interviews with various long-time residents of the town. It is argued that although capitalism was the main motivator for ultraconservative views and politics in the mid 1800s, it was also capitalism that brought about reform and created a platform for negotiation in the 1990s when ultraconservative political parties threatened the peaceful transition into a democratic South Africa. Contents Introduction 1 Aims and Objectives 2 Aim 2 Rationale 2 Literature Review 3 Methodology 22 Primary sources 22 Oral History 23 Interview Guideline Questions 25 Chapter Outline 26 Definition of Key Terms 30 Chapter 1 Introduction 35 Conquest and White Settlement 36 Early Development of Ermelo 44 Urban Segregation 45 The South African War 47 Post-war and the Rise of Nationalism 52 Indian Population and Limiting of Business Rights 56 Chapter 2 Emergence of New Political Conservatives: the Verkramptes in Ermelo 1960-1980 63 Emerging Wealth Gap Within Ermelo and the Urbanisation of Ermelo 67 Industrialisation 71 Decline of the DRC and Changing Character of the Town 73 Afrikaner Working Class and the Conservatives 75 Broedertwis 81 Hertzog’s Role in the Establishment of the HNP 83 White Workers Support for the HNP 87 NP Policies Limiting Business Rights of Indians 90 Chapter 3 The Conservative Party Years: 1980-1990 92 Dominance of the Conservative Party and Decline of White Power 92 Farmers and Conservatives 93 The White Working Class 96 The CP and Local Politics 99 “A Vote for the CP is a Vote Against the NP” 105 Town Council Becomes Conservative 106 Informal Councils and Strategy to Keep Segregation 108 Deindustrialisation in the Late 1980s 109 Chapter 4 1990s: The Suicide Option 113 National Context: Reform 114 The Local: Ermelo and the ‘Suicide Option’ 117 Utraconservative Governing of Ermelo and White Society’s Reactions 118 Resistance from Civics 123 Conservative Reactions to Protest and Democracy 128 Third Force Violence 130 Community Reactions from the ‘White Side of Town’ 134 A Reluctant Democracy 139 Conclusion 144 Bibliography 149 Introduction This dissertation explains the underlying causes and trends in the development of ultraconservative politics in the town of Ermelo. In contrast to a commonly-held view1 that the growth of ultraconservatism may be correlated neatly to economic trends, it is argued that in Ermelo this political phenomenon had deep historical roots and gained traction among particular socio-economic groups in the town at different times. Thus, it is important to understand the politics of the early Trekboer settlements in this part of the country in the 19thcentury, which was characterised by land dispossession, the establishment of a racial hierarchy and the creation of a system of forced black labour on the farms and mines. The Dutch Reform Church played a crucial role in providing biblical justification for the enforcement of a racialized master and servant relationship. This system was augmented during British rule. The primary focus of this study is rooted in electoral politics and the emergence of new political parties from the late 1960s to the early 1990s, which articulated versions of ultraconservative politics in response to national political developments and local economic and political dynamics. Therefore, this is a local study of ultraconservatism in Ermelo highlights the particularities of the town’s white politics in a context of profound changes in Afrikaner politics. In the 1970s, the Herstigte Nasionale Party (HNP) was the dominant party in ultraconservative politics in Ermelo, primarily because its founding leader – Albert Herzog – hailed from the town. From the early 1980s it was eclipsed by the Conservative Party (CP), which also achieved much greater electoral success than its predecessor. White workers and farmers formed a strong support base for ultraconservatives while the business community largely remained loyal to the National Party (NP). Ermelo was one of several Conservative-controlled towns in the early 1990s that doggedly adhered to apartheid laws, even as the system was clearly in its dying days. 1 “Trump, Brexit, and the Rise of Populism: Economic Have-Nots and Cultural Backlash” Faculty Research Working Paper Series Harvard Kennedy School, Inglehart, R.F., Norris, P, August 2016, accessed at: file:///C:/Users/Carolien/Downloads/RWP16-026_Norris.pdf on 19/09/2017 1 In the post 1990 period the conservatives first went on what could be termed a ‘suicide mission’. The town council opted to rather exhaust the town’s funds and attempt to destroy black leadership in Wesselton, the neighbouring township, but in the end chose to enter the transitional town council. This indicates that the whites of Ermelo chose their economic survival over their cultural privileges. In short, ultraconservatism in Ermelo in apartheid South Africa occurred for complex reasons and in differing time periods in its history. Aims and Objectives Aim This dissertation explains the reasons many Afrikaners living in the area of Ermelo during the period from the 1960s-1990s gravitated towards ultraconservative politics. The origins, character and evolution of these political movements are subjected to analyses. Links between economic and social changes and shifting political alignment towards ultraconservative political groups and leaders are explored. Patterns of wealth distribution, social status, migration and employment in the white community in Ermelo between 1960 and 1994 are examined to explain the underlying causes of ultraconservatism in Ermelo. This dissertation determines and explains the local issues that contributed to white residents, especially Afrikaners, supporting ultraconservative politics. Rationale There is a dearth of research on the evolution of conservative politics in small towns in South Africa. The town was and remains an important centre in the former Eastern Transvaal, now Mpumalanga. It serves as a centre of commerce, transport and industry. Ermelo is representative of the former Eastern Transvaal and illuminates the socio-economic realities as well as the ideology of the region. The town has a conservative political base and the process of integration in this area is slow. Whites in this area had developed a mistrust of