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South African Nazi Group Stirs Alarm

March 12, 1941
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An anti-British and anti-Jewish organization that is beginning to assume dangerous proportions in this country is the Ossewa Brandwag (literally translated, the Oxwagon Firetorch). Its supporters claim to uphold the ideals of the Voortrekkers (pioneers) who in the old days travelled by ex-wagon and established settlements in all parts of the country.

A sensation has recently been caused by the fact that Dr. J.F.J. van Rensburg resigned from his position as administrator of the Orange Free State to become the “Commandant-General” of the Ossewa Brandwag, which proclaims that its aim is to fight for the establishment of a Republic free of English “domination.”

The Government has taken no action to restrain the activities of the Ossewa Brandwag, on the ground that it is “an unimportant body.” This tends, however, to be a little disquieting to liberal opinion here, the protagonists of which cannot fail to recall that the National Socialists in Germany were also at one time regarded as unimportant.

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