The Afrikaner Nationalism developed in the late 19th century as Afrikaners sought to unite and promote their distinct language and culture in the face of British domination. Societies like the Genootskap van Regte Afrikaners advocated for the recognition of Afrikaans and belief in Afrikaner superiority. After defeat in the South African War, nationalist sentiment grew and the National Party was formed in 1914 to serve Afrikaner interests. In the 1930s, Afrikaner nationalism was strengthened through organizations, education, religion, and economic institutions that promoted the identity and supremacy of white Afrikaners. This growing nationalism ultimately led to the formalization of apartheid policies in the

1. The Afrikaner Nationalism: the building
block towards the Apartheid governance

2. What does nationalism
mean?
 Nationalism refers to a sense of belonging to and identifying with a
nation.
 It means being linked with a various group of people who you do
not necessarily know nor share the same culture, religious beliefs
or preferences but you share the same country, governance,
national flag as well as the national anthem.

3. Nationalism: South Africa during the
2010 Soccer World Cup

4. The Afrikaner Nationalism
 In the 19th century Afrikaners who lived in Boer
Republics of the Traansvaal and Orange Free State
developed a sense of Afrikaner national loyalty and
pride.
 This was influenced by attempts by the British to control
them in the 1870s.
 In 1875, Afrikaner teachers and ministeries in the Cape
Colony started the Genootskap van Regte Afikaners
(Society of True Afrikaners) but Why?

5. Genootskap van Regte Afikaners

6. The Society of True Afrikaners
 They proposed that the Afrikaans language should be
recognised as a separate language from Dutch.
 They also believed that they were ‘chosen people by
God’ to be superior. This notion was inspired by the
same belief Afrikaners had during the Great Trek of
1830s.

7. Britain: the perpetrator
 During the South African war (1899-1902), majority of
Afrikaners were involved in the fight against the British
and there was little unity amongst them in different
regions.
 After the war, Afrikaners were bitter about their defeat
and the way they were treated during the war.
 In a quest to unite them, Britain created the Union as a
self-governing country although it was still part of the
British Empire. The Union was also an attempt to unite
Afrikaans and English speakers into one nation.
 Britain’s attempt failed because the English speakers
were proud of their heritage: they wanted to use the
Britain national flag and anthem however this caused a
conflict of interests

8. The formation of the National
Party
 In 1914 the National Party was formed as a result of the
conflict. The primary goal of the Party was to serve the
interests of the white Afrikaners.
 It was led by JBM Hertzog, who was a former Boer general
and Afrikaner politician.
 The National Party was supported by Afrikaners in the Cape
and former Boer republics, the Transvaal and the Orange
Free State and in 1924 it was voted into power.
 Afrikaans was finally recognised as a official language. The
South African flag which included the flags of former Boer
republics was adopted.
 Policies to protect white workers were adopted, they were
given preferences to work in government departments.
Subsequently thousands of black workers lost their jobs
such as in the railway sector.

9. The newly adopted flag

10. Afrikaner Nationalism in the 1930s
 During the 1930s, Afrikaners of different classes and
occupations identified with each other. They constructed
the idea of an Afrikaner nation united by its history,
language and culture.
 In 1918 the Boederbond was founded to end the
domination of English speakers in the economy and cut
ties with Britain,
 The Federasie van Afrikaanse Kultuurvereniging
(Federation of Afrikaans Cultural Organisation) was also
formed to promote Afrikaans cultural activities and unite
all Afrikaners.
 All these organisations promoted White Afrikaners as
people with their own langauge, religion and history.

11. Factors which empowered white
Afrikaners
 Education: White Afrikaners were taught in their own language, the
curriculum focused on Dutch Reformed religion, white supremacy
and Afrikaner nationalist versions of History were taught.
 Labour: White Afrikaner workers were discouraged to belong to
working class political parties or trade unions which did not promote
national unity. Afrikaner trade unions were formed to cater for the
interests of white Afrikaners workers.
 Religion: White Afrikaners were discouraged from belonging to
English dominated churches. They had to be loyal to Dutch
Reformed Church and support the National Party.
 The economy: Afrikaner financial institutions were established. This
gave Afrikaners the opportunity to be capitalists. New Afrikaners
businesses were supported by the Reddingsdaadfonds Act (Act of
Rescue Fund)

12. The birth of Apartheid
 The Afrikaner Nationalism created a sense of pride and
white supremacy, in order to ensure that there was no
threat towards the unity of Afrikaner the Apartheid
policy was adopted.
 The apartheid policy was adopted because white workers
feared competition from black labourers: the policy
ensured that there would not be job competition from
Black South African’s.
 The apartheid policy separated whites from Black South
Africans politically, economically, socially and culturally.

13. REFERENCE
 D. O’Meara, Volkskapitalisme: Class, Capital and
Ideology in the Development of Afikaner nationalism
1934-1948 (Cambridge University Press and Ravan,
1983)
 https://www.slideshare.net/MarethaSpies/afrikaner-
nationalism