HNP poster, signed by “Piet "Skiet" Rudolph”
c.1991
This poster is a political artifact from South Africa’s apartheid era, specifically produced by the Herstigte Nasionale Party (HNP).
The HNP was a far-right Afrikaner nationalist party that broke away from the ruling National Party in 1969, believing the government was becoming too liberal in its implementation of apartheid.
• The Slogan: "Stryd is Lewe" translates from Afrikaans to "The Struggle is our life." This was a core rallying cry for the HNP, emphasizing racial purity and the preservation of white minority rule against any forms of integration or reform.
• The Imagery: The illustration depicts the Voortrekker Monument, top left.
This poster highlights a common theme in nationalist propaganda, used to evoke a sense of vulnerability and the "need" to protect future generations of the volk (the people/nation) from perceived external and internal threats.
• "Jaap Marais" was the leader of the party. No The logo at the top right is the party’s official emblem.
Historical Context
The HNP, led by figures like Albert Hertzog and later Jaap Marais, positioned itself as the "true" guardian of Verwoerdian apartheid. They opposed any concessions, such as:
• The presence of Black spectators at sports matches.
• The establishment of diplomatic relations with independent African nations.
• Allowing "Maoris" to play in visiting New Zealand rugby teams.
General elections were held in South Africa on 6 September 1989, the last under apartheid. Snap elections had been called early (no election was required until 1992) by the recently elected head of the National Party (NP), F. W. de Klerk, who was in the process of replacing P. W. Botha as the country's president, and his expected program of reform to include further retreat from the policy of apartheid. The creation of the Conservative Party had realigned the NP as a moderate party, now almost certain to initiate negotiations with the black opposition, with liberal opposition (the PFP) openly seeking a new constitutional settlement on liberal democratic and federalist principles.
Piet "Skiet" Rudolph's trial in the Pretoria district court was postponed again on Thursday as a defence witness was not brought to court.
Rudolph, leader of the Orde Boerevolk, wants Boeremag accused Wilhelm Pretorius to testify on his behalf.
Rudolph, 69, earlier pleaded not guilty to a charge of assaulting police Captain Johannes Cornelius Vice by pulling his tie and a charge of crimen injuria for allegedly calling Vice a "Boereslaner" (Boer assaulter) and a "Boereverraaier" (traitor to the Boers).
He also denied that he threatened to "take out" Vice and Superintendent Tollie Vreugdenburg. Both complainants are investigating officers in the Boeremag case.
It is alleged that Rudolph and the complainants were involved in a scuffle on May 4 last year when Rudolph wanted to attend the Boeremag trial in the Pretoria High Court.
Rudolph also laid a charge of crimen injuria against Vice and claimed Vice grabbed him by his collar.
The court earlier heard that, according to Rudolph, Vice had assaulted Pretorius, which would "justify" Rudolph calling Vice a "Boereslaner".
on Thursday magistrate JC Kruger postponed Rudolph's case, "due to problems getting your witness here".
Police spokesperson Director Sally de Beer said a subpoena to bring Pretorius to the district court was only delivered by 11:40am on Thursday.
"No prior arrangement has been made to have Mr Pretorius at the district court. When the subpoena was delivered, the High Court was already in session, therefore Mr Pretorius could not be transferred from the High Court to the District Court," she said.
485mm x 690mm
R2,500
