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THEME: THE TERMINATION OF THE VOLKSTAAT COUNCIL
NECESSITATES THE BEGINNING OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SELF
DETERMINATION FOR CULTURAL COMMUNITIES IN SOUTH AFRICA

INTRODUCTION

Gen Constant Viljoen and Mr Valli Moosa have reached agreement that the Volkstaat Council should terminate by the end of March 1999. There is the possibility of additional funding to enable the Council to fulfil all its obligations as the current budget only makes provision for activities up to September 1998. Although the State President and the Council still have to confirm (in terms of the act) the termination of the Council, we view this development in a positive light because it brings an end to the uncertainty about the continued existence of the Volkstaat Council. It now enables the Council to meaningfully plan the rounding off of its activities

The Council has done an impressive amount of research on the concept of self-determination, both as far as territorial and cultural self-determination are concerned. Four areas in five provinces have been identified and during the remainder of the Council's existence, the focus of research will primarily be on the economic potential and viability of these areas for territorial self-determination. An opinion poll amongst Afrikaners in three of these areas will also be conducted. The feasibility and practical implications of Afrikaner Councils (Cultural Councils) also need some further investigation. However, I suggest that Afrikaner Councils on local, provincial and national level which are the direct result of the Council's proposals, be granted certain powers and functions, to enable these Council s to play a meaningful role in achieving Afrikaner self-determination.

After completion of the projects mentioned above, the Council intends to publish a report with final conclusions and recommendations. A high-level conference on the practical implementation of sections 185 and 235 of the Constitution, will be held early in the new year. The findings in the final report as well as the conference could be considered the Council s final contribution towards the fulfilment of its mandate.

HISTORICAL OVERVIEW

Reflecting on the history of the Volkstaat Council, the question comes to mind whether or not the Council served any meaningful purpose? Did the Council justify the funds it has spent?

Before dealing with this important question, I should, however, emphasise the fact that some blatantly false allegations were made regarding the funds allocated to and the money spent by the Volkstaat Council. In a recent newspaper report; expenditure of billions of Rand was mentioned. Nothing can be further from the truth. In fact throughout its five years of existence, the Council's total expenditure will be less than Rl5 million. The Council, furthermore, has built up an enviable reputation because of its financial discipline and constraint. It has an impeccable record as far as its strict adherence to departmental guidelines and procedures are concerned. Budgetary limits were never exceeded. These facts and figures are always available to any interested party. It is therefore, hard not to reach the conclusion that the distorted figures mentioned in the press; were part of a deliberate campaign to discredit the Council in the eyes of the public.

The question that should be dealt with here, is if the Council fulfilled the purpose for which it was founded. This purpose could be summarised as follows. In terms of the Accord signed between the Freedom Front, the ANC and the former National Party Government, the Council was founded as a constitutional mechanism to enable, through its research the supporters of self-determination for the Afrikaner, to promote their cause through constitutional channels. The Act on the Volkstaat Council gives legal effect to this Accord.

THE VOLKSTAAT COUNCIL HAS LAID A SOUND FOUNDATION

The Council, in its research, focussed on a variety of matters in order to clarify the complex and multi-faceted concept of self-determination. Topical subjects like relevant international examples of self-determination, mechanisms to realise and implement self-determination, the history of Afrikaner self-determination, as well as the practicability and possibility of territorial self: determination for the Afrikaner, were investigated and published in a number of reports. Currently the Council devotes the bulk of its time and energy to feasibility studies regarding the four identified geographic areas as well as to the implementation process and procedures. Conclusions and recommendations in this regard, will be contained in the Council s final reports.

An important aspect of the task of the Council, was to make submissions to the Constitutional Assembly, at the stage in the process of drafting the current (l996) constitution. The Council fulfilled this obligation to the best of its ability and numerous submissions on a number of issues relevant to Afrikaner self-determination, have been made. Although, to the disappointment of the Council, few of its recommendations were included in the Constitution; the Council can rightfully claim part of the credit for the fact that articles 185 and 135, at least, provide some scope for the realisation of cultural and territorial self-determination respectively.

The work of the Volkstaat Council furthermore, brought greater realism and clarity regarding the notion of self-determination. The Council has made a significant contribution by taking the concept of self-determination and the volkstaat issue in particular, out of the emotional party political sphere and made it the focal point of scientific investigation. The hard reality, as was pointed out in Council reports and during numerous regional information sessions, conferences, symposia and media releases, is that territorial self-determination can only be realised when and if Afrikaners constitute a substantial majority in a territory or territories. This implies a process, the duration of which can t be predicted because it will basically depend on the economic and security situation and, above all, on the will and determination of the supporters of the idea. The propagation of a volkstaat or other forms of self-determination in an activist way, has never been part of the Council s mission. The Council did, however, to the best of its abilities, performed its task; to investigate and to inform. The fact that it succeeded in identifying four areas where the Afrikaner already is or could eventually become a majority, was no mean feat. The demarcation of specific areas and the feasibility studies currently being undertaken, place the volkstaat issue in the realm of practical politics. The same applies to the substantial work the Council has done on the issue of cultural self-determination through Afrikaner Councils. The practical realisation of both types of self-determination is dependent on a political decision which is the responsibility of political parties.

Another important achievement of the Volkstaat Council is its contribution towards the internationalisation of the case for Afrikaner self-determination. Council delegations on three occasions, paid visits to countries in Europe where relevant examples of self-determination could be studied at close quarters. Valuable contacts with members of European nationalities and minorities have been established. The Federal Union of European Nationalities (FUEN) an organisation representing more than two hundred nationalities, deserve special mention in this regard. Several research institutes and foundations of high repute, specialising in nationality and minority questions, have been visited and contact with these institutions are still maintained. The Council, in addition sponsored and organised two high level conferences while a third, as mentioned previously, is planned for early in the new year. The Council, through its research, also brought home the reality that the self-determination of peoples and groups, is today one of the most topical and hotly debated issues in virtually all parts of the world. Group rights -- as have been pointed out by the Council on several occasions deserve the same attention and recognition as individual human rights. Individual rights, as a matter of fact, cannot be fully realised if group rights are not entrenched and respected. The Council, in several of its reports, also emphasised the fact that the right of groups to self-realisation through self-determination, has already - through United Nations and other conventions -become part and parcel of International Las. South Africa, recognising International Law in its Constitution, should, therefore, obviously not be out of step with international practice.

CONCLUSION

It was never intended that the Volkstaat Council should become a permanent body with an indefinite life cycle and it was not the responsibility of the Council to establish a Volkstaat as such. As a statutory research and investigating body, the Council, from the outset, had a limited lifespan and responsibility on the completion of its research. With additional funds for the rest of the financial year the Council would go a long way towards the realisation of the initial aims of the parties who had agreed to the
establishment of the Volkstaat Council.

The responsibility for the practical realisation of self-determination lies with the Government. relevant political parties and institutions which support the idea. In this regard I am of the opinion that the practical realisation of self-determination for peoples and other minorities will be the crown on the achievements of the Volkstaat Council. The response to this challenge will determine whether South Africa will survive as a stable and prosperous community of secure peoples. Furthermore South Africa as a whole could reap the benefits of the sound scientific foundation which has been laid by the Volkstaat Council.

In view of the above-mentioned, the termination of the Volkstaat Council in fact heralds a new era in the process towards the practical implementation of cultural and territorial self-determination for the Afrikaner, as well as other minority peoples in South Africa.

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