Kleinfontein, Gauteng’s Whites-Only Town, Fights for Survival Amid Tax Hike

• The new valuation roll by the Tshwane Municipality has the Kleinfontein, whites-only town fighting for its survival
• The High Court in Gauteng has declared the whites-only town an illegal settlement and not compliant with the land use regulations of the Tshwane Municipality
• The Kleinfontein spokesperson said that the proposed taxes by Tshwane Municipality are ridiculous and could result in the town’s closure

A whites-only Afrikaaner settlement known as "Orania-lite" in Kleinfontein, Gauteng, is fighting for its survival. This comes after the newly issued valuation roll by the Tshwane Municipality.

Why is this happening?

It is believed that the value of the 900-hectare property has increased exponentially since its last valuation. In the previous valuation, the value of the land was estimated at R21 million. During the new valuation roll, the land's worth increased significantly and is believed to be around R290 million. The increase in its value will thus result in higher monthly rates. It is believed that the rates could go up from the current R50 000 per month to around R2 million.

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What is a valuation roll?

A valuation roll is a list published by a municipality with details of rateable properties under that given municipality. It is published every four to five years and the higher the value of the property, the more rates it will be charged. The most recent valuation roll by the Tshwane Municipality was released in March this year, with the previous roll published in 2020.

How did 'Orania-lite' come about?

Before Nelson Mandela’s release, following then-President FW De Klerk’s announcement to abolish apartheid, the right-wing Afrikaner group began discussions and plans for an independent homeland Afrikaans people. Kleinfontein was initially formed by the Boere-Vryhyeidsbeweging (BVB), an Afrikaner political group, in the early 1990s. It shares the same values as Orania in the Northern Cape and is described as its sister town.

De Beer described the settlement as being in a battle for survival, with most surrounding roads consisting of gravel, only accessible by larger vehicles. He said that the board of directors is now grappling with a tough decision: whether to use its limited reserves to repair some of the roads or to set the funds aside for a looming legal battle with the Tshwane metro.

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3 More stories about whites-only towns

• The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in the Northern Cape are demanding action be taken against the Afrikaner-only town of Orania. The Red Berets argue that the town’s continued existence poses a threat to national unity and contradicts South Africa’s democratic values.
• Footage of Orania, the small Northern Cape town established as the home of Afrikaans culture and identity, has surfaced online. The virtual tour reveals well-kept residential areas featuring large homes shaded by trees, along with manufacturing facilities, construction sites and various recreational spaces.
• A social media post featuring statues of former South African leaders in Orania has ignited widespread discussion around the preservation of historical monuments and their meaning to various communities.

Source: Briefly News