Abstract

ROSSOUW, Jannie. The ora's first 20 years. Tydskr. geesteswet. [online]. 2024, vol.64, n.2, pp.219-239. ISSN 2224-7912.  https://doi.org/10.17159/2224-7912/2024/v64n2a5.

The history of the ora (with the symbol Φ) as a trade instrument is inextricably linked to the history of Orania, a village on the southern bank of the Orange River in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa. The closest town to Orania is Hopetown (43 kilometres to the northwest). Orania is about 160 kilometres south of Kimberley, the biggest city in the Northern Cape. Orania has a number of unique features. Firstly, all inhabitants are white and speak Afrikaans, with the implication that this is the language used for all activities (business, education, religion and social interaction). It is therefore viewed as a white Afrikaner cultural enclave. Secondly, the aim of Orania is self-determination as far as its future is concerned. In this context it has been described as a continuation of the Verwoerdian ideal of the 1960s. This aim is supported by "selfwerksaamheid" (loosely meaning "to work with our own for our own"), that is, a policy in terms of which preference is given to the employment of people from Orania. Thirdly, Orania has its own trade instrument, the ora, the symbol for which is Φ.² The ora is described as a coupon used in settlement of cash transactions. Calling the ora currency would be a contravention of the South African Reserve Bank Act, 1989. The Orania Sakekamer [chamber of commerce] issues the ora. It is linked on a one-to-one basis to the South African rand, that is, at a rate of Φ 1,00 = R1,00. The inhabitants of Orania prefer to use ora when referring to amounts and this paper follows the same convention. Literature on Orania refers to the ora and its use in trade, but there is no research focusing on the development of the ora since it wasfirst launched in 2004. This paper seeks to contribute to filling this gap in the existing literature. The ora serves the needs of the inhabitants of Orania. A population census undertaken in Orania in December 2021 and early in 2022 reported the town'spopulation as 2 377 people, of whom 1 635 were 20 years and older. The same census also showed that Orania comprised 649 households and 220 businesses. Based on the 2021/22 census, the total personal annual income of the residents of Orania in 2021 was estimated at Φ295 672 222. Per capita personal annual income of the 2 377 inhabitants was therefore estimated at Φ124 389. Based on the same census data, the annual household income in Orania was estimated at Φ190 331179. The difference in estimates cannot be explained in terms of the 2021/2022 census data and was previously highlighted as an area for further research. These estimates show some correlation with the survey data obtained from the 2021 business survey conducted in Orania. Business turnover in 2021 was estimated at Φ281 950 000. More research is necessary to ascertain whether the increase in the value of ora issued correlates at all with the growth rate of economic activity in Orania. If this correlation can be determined, ora in circulation will be a useful indicator of the growth of economic activities in Orania. The growth rate of ora coupons cannot be compared with growth in economic activity because the latter has not previously been calculated on a comparable basis. Recently research was published that will contribute to a basis for determining future economic growth. This research shows that the ora contributes to "community building" (a sense that the residents are building their own future) in Orania and limits cash risks in the town. However, the ora also has certain disadvantages for residents of Orania. Holders of ora coupons and dOra must exchange them for rand in Orania for cash transactions outside the town. Any discount that businesses grant on ora transactions reduces their turnover and gross profit. The fact that ora coupons are not machine-readable increases the administration costs of the coupons. The final conclusion is that the ora is inextricably linked to Orania. The town can exist without the ora, but the ora cannot exist without Orania.

Keywords : Afrikaans; community development; coupon; currency; economic activity; ora (Φ); Orania.

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