New leadership for the Afrikanerbond was elected on 16 May 2014

- Afrikaners do not have to stand hat in hand - we are an integral part of South Africa

During a meeting of the National Council of the Afrikanerbond held 15 and 16 May 2014 Johannesburg, Jaco Schoeman was elected chairperson of the Afrikanerbond.

Jaco Schoeman, who has a medical technology background which led to several visits abroad and his own private practice in Port Elizabeth in 1991, where he specialised in reproductive biology. He is currently farming in Barkly East in the Eastern Cape.

After his acceptance as chairperson of the Afrikanerbond, Jaco Schoeman said the "election and the outcome of the 2014election, compelled all organisations in civil society to act as guardians of our constitutional democracy. Too many pronouncements and statements were made ​​regarding the second transition or second phase of the revolution which will have a more radical effect on civil society. There is no reason why the key characteristics of good governance which are internationally valid, namely, transparency, responsibility, accountability, participation and responsiveness to the needs of the people, cannot apply to South Africa.

Therefore organisations in civil society organisations, especially those committed to a constitutional democracy, such as the Afrikanerbond, need to involve themselves with this. There is no need, time or justification to move back to an era of neo-racism or obsolete socialist ideologies. Afrikaners should oppose any attempt to change property rights and free market principles as they are part of the cornerstones of a prosperous South Africa."

Schoeman said "the above can only be accomplished when organisations and institutions in civil society, share their expertise and resources and are willing to work with others towards achieving common objectives in the fulfilment of our constitutional democracy and the values ​​contained in the constitution. I Commit myself and the Afrikanerbond to this".

On the role and place of Afrikaners in South Africa Schoeman said, "The vision of the Afrikanerbond, that as Afrikaners we build the future of South Africa together. Afrikaner self-esteem, pride and identity are however continuously cast in suspicion and questioned, and we need to set as goal the restoration of the pride of Afrikaners. If this can be achieved Afrikaners will take their rightful place in the future of South Africa. Part of the process of the restoration of self-esteem is also to reach out to other communities in South Africa, and in this regard, the Afrikanerbond through his minority initiative will play a role.

The time is past when Afrikaners had to stand hat in hand, and to be apologetic about the past. As a proud Afrikaner, but also a South African, I and many Afrikaners crossed our Rubicon in 1994, and I am not in my country because others tolerate or permit  me to be here,  but because we want to work with others on a South Africa that has the potential to be successful for all its people. "

Statement issued by Jaco Schoeman, Chairperson of the Afrikanerbond, and Jan Bosman, Chief Secretary, May 18 2014

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