Republic of South Africa
Republic of South Africa – A Fractured Ally
In the post-war order of 1946, the Republic of South Africa stands as a distant but official ally of the United States, having rejected the Axis powers but struggling to define its own identity amid internal strife. Though technically democratic, the state is increasingly authoritarian in its attempts to hold together a nation divided by race, ideology, and history.
Geopolitical Position
- Official Alignment: Western-aligned (pro-U.S.)
- Unofficial Status: Politically isolated, wary of both fascism and communism
- Military: Defensive posture, focused on internal security and border control
South Africa remains independent and recognized by the Western bloc, maintaining fragile diplomatic and economic ties with the Republic of Rhodesia, Portuguese Africa, and the USA. However, it refuses any cooperation with Middle Africa, citing fears of Reich-backed subversion.
Internal Conflicts and Divisions
Boer Nationalism and Fascist Sympathies
A significant portion of the Afrikaner (Boer) population, especially in the rural north, has embraced fascist and volkisch ideologies, inspired by Germany’s victory and anti-Anglo sentiment. Several underground factions seek to overthrow the central government in favor of a white-only Boer Republic modeled after the Reich.
- Groups: Vrye Volk, Boerefront, and the National Revival League
- Methods: Sabotage, propaganda, paramilitary training
African Socialist Movements
In the townships and homelands, African socialist and communist groups have grown in influence, many inspired by Soviet, Chinese, or Siberian revolutionary thought. These movements are particularly strong among the Zulu and Xhosa youth.
- Groups: People’s Liberation Committee (PLC), African Workers’ Front, Zulu Red Union
- Goals: Land reform, Black liberation, overthrow of white rule
The government, caught between right-wing white insurrectionists and left-wing Black revolutionaries, maintains a brutal internal security system.
Political Leadership
- Prime Minister: Louis van Rooyen
- Party: United National Party (UNP)
- Ideology: Pro-Western, anti-radical, moderately segregationist
- Tactics: Surveillance, co-optation of tribal leaders, anti-subversion laws
Van Rooyen is a pragmatic nationalist attempting to walk a tightrope between American support and Afrikaner pressure. He publicly opposes both fascism and communism but often turns a blind eye to hardline police tactics and nationalist rhetoric.
Security Apparatus
- Bureau of State Stability (BoSS): South Africa’s internal intelligence and repression agency. Modeled partly on American methods, partly on British colonial policing.
- National Guard: Used to suppress unrest in urban zones and tribal regions.
Conclusion
South Africa in 1946 is a nation on the edge—torn between the ghosts of empire, the fires of revolution, and the temptations of fascist revival. Though aligned with the West, it is not fully trusted by Washington, nor by its own people.
