A new generation of young Afrikaners is moving to Orania, a whites-only town in South Africa's Northern Cape province, drawn by a recently established training college and a desire to preserve their cultural identity. Founded in 1991, Orania now has just over 3,000 residents, most of whom are Afrikaans-speaking descendants of early European colonisers. The town's population is growing quietly as more young people return after stints in larger South African cities, citing high living costs and a sense of alienation elsewhere. Thomas de Villiers, 31, moved back after living in Cape Town, saying life outside Orania was "not so wonderful out there." Charlotte van Niekerk, 22, who works in marketing, returned after living on outlying farms and noted that many who leave as teenagers later come back. The 2019 launch of Orania's training college has attracted nearly 250 students, all selected based on ethnicity, religion, work ethic, and criminal record. Town spokesman Joost Strydom said the college aims to expand to 800 students within four years, with new dormitories under construction. Despite limited job opportunities and the nearest sizable town, Hopetown, being 40 kilometres away, students are contributing to the local economy by spending at petrol stations, minimarkets, and bars like Stokkies, where arm-wrestling matches settle disputes. Young residents cite fishing, motocross, and a tight-knit community as key attractions. Divan van der Westhuizen, 19, originally from Johannesburg, said living among fellow Afrikaners has been beneficial. Doret Le Cornu, 23, moved to Orania three years ago, calling it a place to protect Afrikaner culture. The town's insular identity resonates with younger Afrikaners, similar to how far-right movements in the U.S. and Europe attract youth. Orania remains a small fraction of South Africa's 2.6 million Afrikaners, but its model continues to draw interest amid broader national transformation since the end of apartheid in 1994.
Orania's appeal to young Afrikaners rests on exclusion presented as cultural preservation, with entry determined by ethnicity and belief. The town's growth relies on a demographic that left larger cities due to economic strain, not ideological commitment. If identity is now a refuge from hardship, its sustainability depends on continued disillusionment elsewhere. No mention of engagement with South Africa's broader society suggests the model thrives on separation, not coexistence.
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