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abstract

In the current political situation in South Africa we find that members of a certain political party leave its ranks to join another party - this happens without much ado. Politicians easily swop their political ideals for others - this has become common political practice. In the earlier political history of South Africa it was a different story. The establishment of the United South African Party in 1934 united General JBM Hertzog's National Party and General JC Smuts' South African Party. The Nationalists under Dr DF Malan was of the opinion that the fusion of "nationalism" and "imperialism", being the outlook of the two different united groups, would not be successful. This would also require the nationalistic and republican icon, Genl. JCG Kemp, who sided with Hertzog, to become "converted". His tough republican view had to change. The question can be posed did he change or not?

At present place names in South Africa are changed overnight without real opposition. It is rather a matter of reconciliation and the outcry for an exclusive ideology. In 1938 it was a bird of a different feather and such an event caused a great upheavel in the South African political arena. Acting as Minister of Defence during the absence of Oswald Pirow, Jan Kemp, without the knowledge of the Prime Minister, General JBM Hertzog, and the Cabinet announced on 16 December 1938 that Roberts Heights' name would be changed to Voortrekkerhoogte. As one can expect political repercussions came to the fore. On the one side Kemp's actions placed Hertzog in a dilemma, because if he overruled Kemp, he would have to resign and Africaner emotions would crop up. On the other side a cabinet crisis loomed amongst the South African Party members in the cabinet. A storm also arose in the English press and became so hectic that Hertzog had to step in to calm emotions. For the Afrikaner and its press the incident became a moral victory, seen against the background of British supremacy in the past.

During the Jameson Raid in December 1895, General Kemp became a lieutenant in the Krugersdorp Voluntary Corps. At the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer War in 1899 he joined the Krugersdorp Commando and soon became an officer in General Koos de la Rey's ranks. His war record is a story of great courage and bravery. He was successful in battles such as Vlakfontein in 1901 and in the last months of the war he gained, in an act of courage, a victory over General Hamilton's forces at Roodewal. At thePeace Conference at Vereeniging in May 1902 he was one of the six delegates who voted against the British peace proposals. In 1912 he became a major in the newly founded Defence Force of the Union of South Africa. In 1914 he resigned from the Defence Force in protest against the war policy of General Botha's government. From the North-Western Cape he led a rebel force on horseback through the Kalahari, under extreme conditions, to join General Manie Maritz at the border to German South-West Africa. After an unsuccessful attempt against the Union's Forces at Upington in January 1915, he was forced to surrender. For his participation in the Rebellion he was sentenced to seven years imprisonment and a fine of R2 000. This embittered Kemp and he regarded Botha and General Smuts as traitors of the Afrikaner nation. Kemp, the die-hard, remained an enemy of British imperialism for the rest of his life. The freedom he so dearly loved and had fought for remained in his spirit and on his deathbed his last words were, "I do not fear".

Apart from giving a concise summary of the fundamental viewpoints on an appropriate development strategy, the article identifies the main programmes and activities which constitute the new style of development. The emphasis is laid on the development approach in the less developed areas of Southern Africa. (DÜI-Hns)