Premium: The great ‘What If’ SA’s 1910 motto had instead been Ex Diversitate Vires?

Among South Africa's opinionistas, RW Johnson (above) is peerless. His columns often take our minds to fresh places, challenging long-held preconceptions and helping us change through personal reflection. Johnson's command of his homeland's historical, political and economic realities gives him the perfect foundation for a big question of the moment – What If SA's four provinces had NOT unionised in 1910.

The third and final instalment of his series addressing the question is now on Politicsweb – Dr James Myburgh's superb website which is a platform for the full spectrum of political views and the only one where BizNews advertises.

In some senses, the series will embolden the views of those lobbying for Cape Independence. It will also remind us, however, that he who has the gold makes the rules. For the old SA it was the mineral rich, verkrampte Transvaal, whose imposed approach changed the path for the former colonies which had been moving towards racial integration.

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