What is the Individualist Movement Discord server?

The Individualist Movement Discord server gives a home and a voice to those individuals who agree with these ideas. The purpose is  to provide an online venue for thoughtful discussion about the major issues of the day from an individualist and libertarian perspective, as well as a place to hangout, read interesting viewpoints, chat with friends, participate in meetings. 

Think of it as the electronic version of your local pub. 

Motivation

You are an individual, a nation of one, a unique and wonderful piece of the grand design. You are worthy of respect. Your consent is important. Your property is yours. No one should act against you without your permission.

This is the basis of the Individualist Movement. 

Regrettably, these truths are not self-evident. The forces of collectivism are everywhere in the world, and will triumph if not resisted. This is a war for the hearts and minds of individuals, to be fought with ideas, information and evidence. 

Bad ideas flourish when good ideas are absent. Ideas are only made real when they are written down and shared. The adoption of new ideas by the broader public depends on the accessibility, the appeal and the simplicity of these new thoughts.

History

The Individualist Movement (IM) was established in June 2018 as a more structured successor to the Libertarian Society. The IM has a website at www.individualist.one and a blog at www.libertarian.org.za and a whatapp group called Libertarians Group. In 2022 I setup a Slack channel, but Slack proved difficult to install, and has since been replaced by  the Individualist Movement Discord server. 

Discord advantages

• Discord gives you the ability to get personal with your like-minded community members rather than spamming links at them. 

• Discord allows unlimited text channels (similar to whatsapp), but with good threading facilities.

• It has forum channels which facilitate long form debates. 

• It supports instant messaging, voice channels and good searching.

• It is quick and easy to install on all platforms.

Using Discord

1. Rather than wading through a river of often unrelated messages, you can choose the topics that interest you and focus on the subject at hand.

2. You can group channels into categories to further structure discussions.

3. If you don’t find a topic that interests you, you can add your own.

4. You can reply to comments sequentially (like whatsapp) or you can establish a new thread from a comment where you and others engage.

5. You can attach images and documents to comments, and use limited text formatting. 

6. You can enliven comments with emojis, gifs and stickers.

7. You can easily browse other Discord servers of interest, and add them to your menu.

8. You can even add a new server of your own if the mood takes you.

Why?

You have hundreds of social media apps, podcasts, news sources to choose from. Why add one more? 

1. If you are a South African individualist or libertarian, then this server is tightly focussed on your interests.

2. You will interact with old and new friends.

3. It is a safe and secure environment. You won’t be judged for your views by people with nothing in common. You won’t be cancelled or doxed.

4. You can express your opinions for the benefit of others, and posterity. 

5. You will see notices of forthcoming events, movement news, projects and initiatives.

6. You will help promote the ideas of freedom in a collectivist and woke world.

Join

How will history remember you? Is your opinion just hearsay? Is the evidence of your existence uncertain?

If it's not recorded, its rumour. History belongs to the writers, not the victors.

The Individualist Movement Discord server gives you a simple and safe place to record your opinions and to read those of others, in a structured and thoughtful way. Become part of the conversation.  It's free.

To join go to  https://discord.gg/HfnHbNbjgP on either your cell or laptop browser and follow the prompts.

The Hanseatic Approach

The Hanseatic League Logo

Trevor Watkins 23/11/22

Everybody got the hots for glory. Nobody stopped to scrutinise the plans. Paul Simon

If South Africa was a horse, we would probably shoot it. But it is instead a one horse country, and we have to find a way to save it.   Imminent national collapse looms

We know we cannot continue with the ANC. They actually deserve to be ignored.

The opposition is divided, ineffectual and impotent.  They will not succeed in our lifetimes.

Secession is complicated and unpredictable. At best it will lead to another government populated with self-serving politicians. At worst, it may descend into civil war.

Our future demands a different solution. Fortunately, history provides a useful template.

The Hanseatic League

The Hanseatic League was a mediaeval commercial and defensive confederation of merchant guilds and market towns in Central and Northern Europe. Growing from a few North German towns in the late 12th century, the League ultimately encompassed nearly 200 settlements across seven modern-day countries; at its height between the 13th and 15th centuries, it stretched from the Netherlands in the west to Russia in the east, and from Estonia in the north to Kraków, Poland in the south. It is generally credited with the widespread peace and prosperity in the regions where it operated

 Echoes of this league continue today in names like Lufthansa and Hansa beer. A New Hanseatic League was established in 2018 involving the countries of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands and Sweden. 

I propose a solution for South Africa based on the ideas of the Hanseatic League.

The Solution

Any proposed solution should have the following characteristics

• feasible, practical, affordable

• constitutional

• leverages existing South African skills and facilities

• prioritises peace and prosperity over ideology and race

• a proven track record of success

Here is a solution that does not:

• require majority support to work

• require a coalition of minorities to agree with each other

• require large scale use of force

• require massive external funding (IMF or World Bank)

• require a widespread crackdown on corrupt cadres

• require a democratic consensus

Here is a solution that 

• has a history of 400 years of success

• involves no coercion, corruption or sacrifice

• resolves the conflicting visions of individuals and communities

• satisfies both the secessionists and traditionalists

• requires no dictators, strong leaders, powerful interests

• serves individual self interests

How will it work?

The Hanseatic League was established by businessmen and merchants to protect their commercial interests. It drew up a charter and elected a council, with limited powers and scope.

Anyone could join if they paid the membership fees, although it mostly targeted cities and guilds. It protected transport of goods by defeating pirates and brigands and fostered safe navigation by building lighthouses. 

In South Africa we have many competent businesses and merchants. We also have many failed municipalities and districts in desperate need of good management.  Let us bypass the whole political morass and establish a commercial organisation similar to the Hanseatic league to service the residents of failing municipalities.  

We could call it the South African Free Trade League (SAFTeL). Its main objective would be to use the power of free trade and commerce to address the many challenges facing South Africa in a non-political way. SAFTeL would have a decentralised, project-based management structure with a small but well-paid executive. 

SAFTeL will give South African businessmen (and citizens) an opportunity to redeem themselves after years of shameful inactivity. It will not be just another business association,  all talk and no action. Rob Herzov’s NewSouthAfrica.org could provide a useful template.

Initially, SAFTeL would offer management expertise to failing municipalities,  SOE’s and parastatals. It could provide protection and the rule of  law to many mafia-threatened industries. It could privatise the failing services that government at all levels is too incompetent to provide. It could resist the power of unions and special interests. It would protect its members from the depredations of their own government.

South Africa is at the mercy of mafias and cabals. The aim is for SAFTeL to become a bigger and scarier operation than any of the opposing cabals, while remaining within the rule of law.

Fundamental principles 

All members of the league will commit themselves to the following fundamental principles:

1. Respect all inhabitants equally, regardless of colour, creed, origin, gender.

2. No one may act against an innocent person or their property without their consent.

3. Everyone has the right to own and trade justly acquired property

4. Everyone has a right to be judged by a jury of their peers.

In time SAFTeL would produce a more detailed charter describing its objectives and rules of conduct.

What next? 

1. Establish a new company called The South African Free Trade League, or SAFTeL.

2. Produce a charter containing goals, principles, and rules.

3. Develop facilities (website, DAO platform, treasury)

4. Develop services (security, legal, arbitration,  trading, banking)

5. Recruit members.

6. Recruit clients

7. Begin trading

Manage failing municipalities

Like the Hanseatic League, SAFTeL could focus on recruiting the residents of failing municipalities. In 2021, 43 of our more than 200 municipalities were ranked as “dysfunctional”, and 111 were “at risk”. While a national disgrace, this does present an interesting business opportunity. 

Managing basic services is not rocket science. Farmers and mines do it with barely a second thought. Privatisation of services is the key.

SAFTeL could 

• recruit a few engineers and administrators,

• bypass the failed municipal bureaucracies, 

• offer services directly to residents for a fee, 

• provide legal and arbitration support for freezing rates payments

• provide protection services to deal with any pesky protests

• Manage tenders from new or existing service providers

In this manner SAFTeL  would assemble a portfolio of towns across the country to rival any political party, completely outside the deeply compromised political process, and probably get a reasonable return on investment in time. It would be a purely commercial operation, non-political, non-racial, legal and constitutional. It might even compete with well-run municipalities on a price basis.

In this fashion many towns and districts could become effectively independent without allegiance to any political party or movement. They would not have to adopt the one-size-fits-all approach advocated by the political parties and secession movements.The SAFTeL charter would provide support for businesses, reduced regulation, protection, while respecting local community interests and traditions. This is how it worked for 400 years in the Hanseatic League.

Other possibilities

If  SAFTeL is successful, it could consider taking on other failed government projects. 

For example, the Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) does a poor job of managing this vital airport infrastructure. SAFTeL could spin off a company to buy these airports from ACSA and make money by doing a better job. 

Public rail (PRASA) and the ports (PORTNET) are similar failed enterprises that might benefit from management by more commercial interests.

Summary

Many people seem to think that the same people who caused South Africa’s problems, namely politicians, are the only ones who can fix these problems. This article describes how business and commercial interests could do a far better job, much as they did in Europe for 400 years. 

Economic freedom is the key to our future.

References

Works Cited

“Hanseatic League.” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanseatic_League. Accessed 2 November 2022.

Simpson, Storm. “Ranked: These are the 43 worst municipalities in South Africa.” South African, 26 October 2021, https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/worst-municipalities-ranked-these-are-the-43-municipalities-on-the-verge-of-the-collapse-breaking-26-october-2021/. Accessed 2 November 2022.

South African Libertarian and Individualist Seminars from 1985 to 2022

 

South African Libertarian and Individualist Seminars

 from 1985 to 2022

In 1985 a subscriber to The individualist, Ria Crafford,  suggested that a seminar be held at which libertarians from all over the country could gather.  This led to the first libertarian spring seminar being held on the farm Nebo near Ficksburg  in the Orange Free State in 1985, organised by Frances Kendall.  Following the success of this seminar, Trevor Watkins,  Charl Heydenrych and Peter Kidson got together to organise the second Seminar at Mont-aux-Sources hotel in the Drakensberg.  A libertarian spring Seminar has been held every year since that time with the single exception of 2010.

These seminars are a classic example of "spontaneous organisation" suggested by Friedrich Hayek. There is no central committee or structure that takes responsibility for organising the next seminar. After the last seminar it is commonly unknown who will organise the next one. Around about June or July of each year the pressure to organise the next seminar begins to build up, suggestions are exchanged, and eventually the person(s) who want it most emerge and undertake the quite arduous task of organising the seminar completely voluntarily. These organisers choose the date, duration, location, theme, target audience and agenda, yet there is a remarkable consistency between seminars. The date is commonly late September or October (Spring in South Africa), the venue is often close to mountains (the central parts of the country are more accessible to more people), the target audience is all known South African libertarians, with a smattering of overseas intellectuals.

The Libertarian Spring Seminars have outlasted 6 South African presidents, the oppressive apartheid regime (whose secret service agents threatened the organisers of the 2nd seminar), and massive and unprecedented changes in the governance and structure of South Africa. A full list of the seminars is available below.

No	Dates	Venue	Topics	Notes
1	1985	Nebo Eastern Free State	1. Conservation and endangered species – a libertarian view – Trevor Watkins	Organizer -Frances Kendall following suggestion from Ria Crafford
2	1986	Mont-aux-Sources hotel	Capitalism game: Ed Dexter	Organisers – Charl Heydenrych, Trevor Watkins. Security Police spy also attended.
3	1987	Little Switzerland	Eugene Nyati, Wiseman Nkuhlu, Hertzog, James Mbetse	Organisers – Terry Markman, Charl Heydenrych, Peter Kidson and Trevor Watkins
4	1988 7-13 Aug	Royal Swazi Sun, Mbabane Swaziland	1. The worldwide revolution – Leon Louw 2. Keynote address – John Hospers 3. Fighting apartheid in the workplace – Albert Koopman 4. Saving the inner cities – David Boaz 5. Untying the knot – Louise Tager 6. Selling Freedom to workers – Marc Swanepoel and David Maphumulo 7. Fighting the system – Lawrence Mavundla 8. Reaching the minds: strategy for change – Frances Kendall 9. Economic development and property rights – Steve Pejovich 10. Centralisation of power in SA and prospects for devolution – Frederick van Zyl Slabbert 11. Privatisation 1987 – the worldwide trend – Bob Poole 12. Once more with feeling – Bruce Evoy 13. The why and when of regulation and deregulation – Jim Johnston 14. Peace in the middle east through non-violence – Mubarak Awad 15. Changing attitudes on SA in America – Ned Munger 16. Future in our time (FIOT) – Hubert Jongen Also present: Jason Alexander, Barbara Branden, James Mbetse, Dr Steve Pejovich, , Hernando de Soto, Hubert Jongen, Bill Forster	4th World Conference of Libertarian International Organized by Frances Kendall, Leon Louw, Gail Day, Vince Miller, Jim Elwood, Bruce Evoy Swazi Times carried a front page headline article on Libertarians
5	1989	Sandford Lodge? Underberg?		Organised by Natal Libertarians, Symond Fiske, Jan Jack
6	1990	Indaba Hotel Johannesburg 20-23 Sep	1. Markets in Moscow – Leon Louw 2. The future of the ANC – Willie Breytenbach 3. The emerging constitution – Justice Pierre Olivier 4. The big picture, who’s right, who’s left, who’s confused – Anna Starcke 5. Who represents non-socialist blacks? – Oscar Dhlomo 6. Obstacles to a Libertarian South Africa – Frederick van Zyl Slabbert 7. An overview of black politics – Mark Swilling 8. Who my friends will vote for – Kaiser Nyatsumba 9. What the right will accept – Karel Boshoff 10. Societies in transition – Nancy Seijas 11. Does South Africa need a classical liberal party? Gary Moore and Tony Leon 12. Making education work – Eustace Davie 13. Is Anglo a monopoly? – Dan Leach 14. The Land question – Martin Fey and Symond Fiske 15. Labour pains – Frank Vorhies 16. Overcoming historical injustices – Leon Louw 17. Redistribution illusions – Don Caldwell 18. Defending the new SA – Richard Grant 19. Constitutions, referendums – Frances Kendall 20. Crystal Ball Stokvel – predict the SA of 1994	Organiser – Nancy Seijas?
7	1991	Salt Rock Hotel North KZN coast 26-29 Sep	Don Caldwell - New South Africa	Organiser – Gavin Weiman 49 delegates
8	1992 10-13 Sep	Cathedral Peak, Drakensberg	1. No more martyrs now – Don Caldwell 2. Personality and Liberty  - Frances Kendall 3. Politics and economics of gambling – Grant Kaplan 4. Big bang, quagmire, vortex and other scenarios – Leon Louw 5. Affirmative action, apartheid and capitalism – Jim Peron 6. Shoot an elephant – save a species – Deborah Vorhies 7. Environmentalism, the final battlefield – Frank Vorhies 8. Thomas Sowell, conflicting visions and Ayn Rand – Terry Markman 9. Rand vs Hayek – Gavin Weiman 10. Heads down for the depression! – Jim Harris 11. Lets party! Forming, organizing and marketing a libertarian party – Richard Yelland 12. Compulsory delinquency – Symond Fiske	Organiser – Jim Peron, Trevor Watkins, Gavin Weiman 42 delegates
9	1993	Sparkling Waters?	1. The things people know that ain’t so – Leon Louw 2. Is Libertarianism in SA a lost cause? – Geoff Hemm 3. A Wu Li view of Freedom – Linda Watkins 4. The end of history – Libby Husemeyer 5. Total Economic Activity Levy – An alternative Tax System – Graham Robertson and Bob Shambrook 6. The way through the woods – Symond Fiske 7. Be armed or be damned – Richard Pascoe 8. Science against unreason – Jim Harris 9. Justice and law without the state – Nancy Seijas 10. Education in a non-coercive society – Eustace Davie 11. Taking ecology seriously – Jan Crafford and Steve Chown 12. Errors in Rand’s philosophy – Gavin Weiman 13. Do libertarians believe in a free press – Maureen Sullivan 14. The sexy factor – Frances Kendall 15. A better tax base – Trevor Nell	Organisers -  Gail Day, Velma Gore Ria Crafford prize awarded for 1st time to Frances Kendall for “The seXY factor”
10	1994 13-16 Oct	The Nest, Drakensberg	1. Radical thoughts on what people believe and why – Leon Louw 2. It could be better than you think: an analysis of the Bill of Rights – Gavin Weiman 3. Democracy or mobocracy – Gail Daus 4. Copyright – Jim Harris 5. From sound money to funny money – Eustace Davie 6. What’s at the top of the pyramid – Symond Fiske 7. The environment: a few practical hints – Roelof van der Merwe 8. Berton Braley : the bard of business – Linda Abrams 9. The RDP: is it worth it? – Norman Davis 10. Beyond objectivism – Peter Voss 11. Federalism: myth and reality – Gary Moore 12 Population control – Jim Peron 13. Freedom in cyberspace: a trip on the internet – Trevor Watkins 14. Why did the children of Waco have to die? – Peter Arnold 15. In defence of elitism – Velma Gore 16. A case study of terrorism in the meat industry – Nils Dittmer 17. Politicians are as black as they have been painted -  Frances Kendall 18. Deregulation of gambling – Graeme Levin	Organiser – Libby Husemeyer, Theresa Griessel
11	1995 8-10 Sep	Franschhoek Swiss Farm Excelsior	1. Understandings the …isms – Conservatism, Objectivism, Liberalism, Libertarianism – Leon Louw 2. Stolen property – what limits to restitution – Jim Harris 3. A practical, local Libertaria (Sedgefield) – Trevor Watkins 4. South Africa – economic policy without an economic philosophy (What are the prospects for a capitalist economy in the hands of socialists) – Hugh High 5. Once upon a time there was a virus… the truths, lies and outright fairy tales associated with the AIDS saga – Peter Arnold 6. Libertarians vs Libertines – Symond Fiske 7. A rational approach to the environment – Andrew Kenny 8. Prostitution, feminism and the law – Linda Day 9. The politics of freedom – Frances Kendall	Organiser – Trevor Watkins, Geoff Hemm Mark Shuttleworth attended this seminar.
12	1996	Qwantani Sterkfontein Dam Eastern Free State	1.  Our new constitution: what went on behind the scenes, results & outlook – Leon Louw 2. To whom should Libertaria belong – Symond Fiske 3. Despite popular opinion, science is an essential component of a free world – Jim Harris & Garth Zietsman 4. Freedom and economic growth – Terry Markman 5. Black Liberalism: a contradiction in terms? Themba Sono 6. The right to self-determination – Johann Enslin 7. Environmentalism as if reality matters – Kelvin Kemm 8. Porn again – Jim Peron	Organiser – Charl Heydenrych
13	1997	Harrismith		Organiser – Gail Day
14	1998 24-27 Sep	Everglades Hotel Natal midlands	1. Race and ideology in SA – Frances Kendall 2. Fraud vs Caveat Emptor – Jim Harris 3. A constitution for Libertaria – Ron Weissenberg 4. Bill Gates: 3rd millennium robber baron? – Gary Moore 5. Can individualists work as a team? – Theresa Griessel and Clive Barrett 6. Waco – the rules of engagement (movie) 7. Does God exist – Norman Davis 8. The benefits and hazards of religion – Terry Markman 9. Capitalism and Christianity in conflict – Jim Peron 10. Alternative health: Mumbo-jumbo? Gail Daus 11. Libertarians – society’s misfits? Garth Zietsman 12. Reinventing government – Leon van Wyk 13. Whither the new South Afica? – Russell Crystal 14. Child pornography: a victimless crime? – Leon Louw	Organiser – Frances Kendall?
15	1999			Organiser –
16	2000 22-25 Sep	Alpine Heath Drakensberg	1. Hitler on the Zambesi - Jim Peron 2. The coming revolution in education - Eustace Davie 3. The game of life - Neil Emerick 4.  Prospects for growth in SA – Jim Harris 5. AIDS—myths and misconceptions  - Leon Louw 6. Reports from the Frontline - Denis Beckett 7. IQ,  sanity, stupidity and madness - Symond Fiske 8. Debate: Can free markets operate on public property? - T Markman, L Louw,  J Harris 9. How can all the doctors be wrong? - Anthony Brink 10. Rhetorical Speaking — How to do it - Corne Bester 11. Taxi-ing towards disaster - Paul Pereira 12. Libertarian primer - Trevor Watkins 13. Black thinking / White thinking -Themba Nolutshungu 14. Lies, damned (anoma)lies and  stats - Garth Zietsman	Organiser – Trevor Watkins Herringbone band played at Barn dance Ria Crafford trophy instituted, won by Neil Emerick Sponsored RAU students from Salsa 61 attendees
17	2001	Roode Vallei Country Lodge? Near Pretoria	1. Understanding liberalism – Marc Swanepoel 2. Benevolence and Objectivism – Terry Markman 3. Freewill 3Fdiceman Y2Kgame – Jim Harris 4. Gambling on the internet – Graeme Levin 5. The New SA: Is Atlas shrugging? – Mark Heaton 6. The Bell curve: Does IQ matter? – Garth Zietsman 7. CS Lewis: the problem of subjectivism – Norman Davis 8. Was Objectivism a cult? – Jim Peron 9. Buddhism for Libertarians – Richard Yelland 10. Yoga and nuclear physics – David Sevitz 11. Libertarian scruples – Theresa Griessel & Clive Barratt 12. Gun control debate	Organiser – Gavin Weiman?
18	2002 26-29 Sep	Golden Gate Free State	1. The miracle of poverty – Leon Louw 2. I have a dream that one … with the help of Jonathan Gullible – Janette Eldridge 3. Free minds and free markets in a new form for kids – Barry Kayton 4. The trouble with democracy – Garth Zietsman 5. Quality capitalism vs conventional capitalism – Ron Weissenberg 6. Libertarianism Schmibertarianism – Vivian Vermaak 7. People should butt out – liberty in public spaces – Jim Harris 8. Denationalise money – Eustace Davie 9. Ignore victimless crimes and convict real criminals: The facts – Jean Redpath 10. Drug patents, drug activists and access to drugs – Richard Tren 11. Workshop on Nigeria: Applying libertarian ideals to the real world – can it be achieved in Africa? – Therese Griessel 12. Enron et al: the solution – Gary Moore 13. Afro-optimism: Justified? – Kerrin Myres 14. e-Liberty – Neil Emerick 15. Consense: consent and common-sense – Trevor Watkins	Organiser – Gail Day? Trevor Watkins had surgery during this seminar.
19	2003	Breakwater Lodge V&A Waterfront, Cape Town	1. Principles of good law – Leon Louw 2. Health care: who is responsible? – Louise Botha 3. People make a difference – Nic Marais 4. Introducing Symond Fiske’s Our Principle Problem – Jan Jack 5. The adventures of Jonathan Gullible – A Free Market Odyssey – Janette Eldridge 6. Vox populi, vox diaboli – Geoffrey Wittenberg 7. The long road to equality – Duncan Andrew 8. Growth and transformation – Prof Brian Kantor 9. The tyraany of obsolete political labels – Prof Don Ross 10. How free are we? – Neil Emerick 11. Education, entrepreneurs and freedom – Barry Kayton 12. Nietzche for libertarians – Garth Zietsman 13. The cleanest, safest source of energy: Nuclear power – Andrew Kenny 14. Privatization: why it applies to everything – Douglas Shaw 15. South Africa: the good news – Ron Weissenberg 16. Constitutional Freedom Foundation / Economic Freedom Movement – Trevor Watkins	Organisers – Barry and Betty Kayton
20	2004 27-28 Mar	Free Market Foundation Johannesburg	1. Trip to Lindela Detention centre near Krugersdorp – Charl Heydenrych 2. Jonathan Gullible Book Launch & Braai – Amagi ranch - Ken Schoolland 3. The triumph of government! – At keeping citizens poor and elites rich. – Leon Louw 4. Should criminals be punished? – Christian Michel 5. How wrong ideas survive and breed - Dr K Kemm 6. Debate - The War in Iraq – Barun Mitra / Ken Schoolland 7. Why I am not a democrat - I prefer freedom - Christian Michel 8. Changing South Africa – constitutional court, ballot box or diplomacy? - N Davis, M Mokoena 9. The Regulation Explosion.  How laws are ruining our lives - Dougie Shaw 10. Freedom evolves - Dr Jim Harris 11. More people believe in God than in themselves! Why can’t we sell Individual Freedom? -Panel discussion 12. Medical Monopolies - M Swanepoel 13. Individual rights and immigration wrongs – can they be reconciled? - Ken Schoolland	Organisers – Trevor Watkins, Leon Louw Billed as the 1st SA Individual Freedom Conference International guest speakers: Ken Schoolland, Christian Michel, Barun Mitra
21	2005	Golden Gate Free State	1. The Jonathan Gullible Game – Janette Eldridge 2. The Constitutional Court and Supreme Court face off – Norman Davis 3. Principle Poker – the game – Trevor Watkins 4. The importance of principles – Neil Emerick 5. TAP-minarchy needs a growth-HOE – Jim Harris 6. The common sense of the common law – Gavin Weiman 7. Where’s our broadband? – Neil Emerick 8. Why Anarchy sucks – Richard Yelland	Organiser – Jim Harris
22	2006 5-8 Oct	Nebo Farm Eastern Free State	1. A slow, steady decline? – Trevor Watkins 2. Fey on Farming and Freedom – Chris Fey 3. Africa and Other Matters – Doug Shaw 4. 9/11 Conspiracy theories – Norman Davis 5. The effect of Islamism on Western Freedom – Graeme Levin 6. Habits of highly effective countries – Leon Louw 7. Werewolves and Villagers game – Katie Louw 8. The Stakeholders myth – Gary Moore 9. The Welfare state we’re in – Richard Yelland	Organiser – Trevor Watkins
23	2007	Golden Gate		Organiser – J Harris
24	2008	Golden Gate		Organiser – J Harris
25	2009	FMF offices		Organiser – G Zietsman, L Louw
	2010	None	No conference held
26	2011	Cape Town	-  Intro to Libertarianism Neil Emerick  -  Open borders and pacifism as libertarian principles Garth Zietsman -  Free to fail? Lessons from financial failures Brian Kantor -  Alternative order of distributed online coordination of law and money Piet le Roux -  The Scorpions Constitutional Court Case Hugh Glenister -  Seasteading Julian le Roux -  Climate Change Andrew Kenny -  Challenges facing the SA labour market Loane Sharp -  The Cape Republic and secession from South Africa Jack Miller -  SaveSA Brainstorming Session Everyoneaturday -  A guinea fowl, Karl Marx, and a gravedigger walk into a bar Dawie Roodt -  Sanction of the victim Gavin Weiman -  Our experience at FreedomFest 2011 Vega5 -  How human individualism evolved: prehistoric markets drove brain growth, then big brains made collectivism unstable Don Ross  -  The moral case for liberty Garreth Bloor  -  The perils to freedom of scaremongering Ivo Vegter  -  Wealth distribution, equity and equality Stephen van Jaarsveldt  -  The experience of a South African libertarian in Canada Gary Moore	Organiser – J Le Roux
27	2012 16-18 November	Grahamstown	-Colin Bower The Myth of Unique Suffering  - Mario Oriani-Ambrosini A Libertarian Manifesto - Public Meeting Ivo Vegter/Dr B De Klerk What's the fracking problem? - Loane Sharp SA Labour Market – Trends and Issues -Trevor Watkins A Mission to Civilise  -Ron Weissenberg Planning to survive - Paul Hjul Be Liberal in what you do; be Libertarian in what you expect from others -  Frances Kendall Is rationality possible? - Ivo Vegter  Extreme Environmentalism  - Leon Louw  The gorilla in the room - Loraine Weissenberg Libertarians from a distance - Roland Kroon What we can do to fix the environment.Winner of the Ria Crafford award -John Luscombe Farming 2.0 -Neil Emerick Internet Privacy	Organiser – T Watkins, R Weissenberg Roland Kroon won the Ria Crafford award Available at https://www.libertarian.org.za/2016/10/27th-libertarian-spring-seminar-2012.html
28	2013	Prince Albert	- Paul Hjul - Privatization and Nationalization - Two Sides of the Same Unprincipled Coin. -Leon Louw – The importance of being unequal - Brian Kantor - How much does capital cost the private or publicly owned company in South Africa? A review of the theory and the evidence and why bearing risks of ownership should be borne by volunteer shareholders rather than conscripted citizens. -Tracey Swanepoel  - Critical factors in running a successful private school, -Schalk Dormehl - Investment Opportunities in Cryptostan -  the potential of doing business anonymously over the internet. - SA Bitcoin Exchange -Simon Nicks -  There’s nothing tragic about the Commons  -Danielle Roodt – How to clone a Mammoth. A test tube, some genetic material and a super-sized surrogate, and out pops a baby mammoth! Is it that easy …  but should we do it? And how about GMOs? Winner of the Ria Crafford award for best speaker - Dawie Swanepoel (no relation to Tracey!) – Sexual morality, sexual freedom -Andrew Kenny - Animal Rights. -Dawie Roodt  - Demographics and BBBEE – who depends on who in contemporary South Africa? -Sue Milton-Dean – An eco-business model for the Karoo -Rory Kleu – The Need to Feed- doing the maths - Neil Emerick – EFW Feedback.  -Andrew Kenny re-visits the myth of anthropomorphic global warming. - Colin Bower re-visits the myth of unique suffering -Formation of SA Libertarian Party, Enyinnah Nkem-Abonta, Barry de Harde,Trevor Watkins	Organiser – C Bower, T Watkins
29	2014	Jeffreys Bay	-Frances Kendall - Fast and slow thinking and the Oscar Pistorius trial - Ivo Vegter -The tinfoil-hat loonies were right all along. The surveillance state, and the implications of Edward Snowden's revelations. -Leon Louw – A libertarian approach to traditional law  -Andrew Kenny – Chiefs and Traders Winner of the highly prized but rarely seen Ria Crafford award for Best Speaker! -George Werner - Abolishing Government as a social institution, Practical or Utopian? -Schalk Dormehl - State of the dark market -Gareth De Vaux – The road to anarchy -Trevor Watkins – Authoritarians An overview of the book “The Authoritarians” by Bob Altemeyer -Trevor Watkins – An overview of  “Swarmwise”  by Rick Falkvinge, founder of the Swedish Pirate Party, and its relevance to libertarian ideas. -Ron Weissenberg - Orania – Whitewash, white elephant or white what? -Garth Zietsman - Liberty and Democracy -Erik Peers - Going against the grain; is Noakes a Libertarian? -Prof Pierre Le Roux - Economic growth and Economic freedom -C Bower – What do people want? -C Bower - Punishment - a pointless pursuit -C Bower - Reflections on SAPS vs R Barnard -E Marais – Dorp van Drome – individual activism that works	Organiser – T Watkins
30	2015	Orania	Andrew Kenny, Africans and Afrikaaners https://youtu.be/XNMbR877v70 Charl Heydenrych, The Status of the SA Libertarian Party https://youtu.be/QSpwsink-WQ Dawie Swanepoel, RW Johnson https://youtu.be/XT5oVsNYSSA  Garth Zietsman, The Pursuit of Reason https://youtu.be/SEFeEfElhAU  Gary Moore, Patently Obvious https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9k9UX65_zBg Gavin Weiman, Time Travel, Magi & Anarchy https://youtu.be/Nj9Tcfo0Z2k Jack Miller, The Cape Party  https://youtu.be/8mx_X8reYQk  Jaco Kleynhans, Orania https://youtu.be/b37aMzWwvDk Leon Louw, The Fallacy of Inequality  https://youtu.be/hyGU4KsOndE  Leon Louw, Why People Do Not Want Orania to Secede  https://youtu.be/iBVgyeON53o  Ron Weissenberg, State vs Standard Bank https://youtu.be/0yWtttqic38  Schalk Dormehl, Smart Contracts, DAO’s & Prediction Markets https://youtu.be/1tfXjBQ3MSY  Stephen van Jaarsveld, How Orania Stumbled Upon Ricardo’s Comparative Advantage   https://youtu.be/aSR4jIa3970   Stephen van Jaarsveld, The Fluid Nature of Cultural Identity https://youtu.be/-AnhUh9IVXk   Trevor Watkins, Hayek’s Law, Legislation & Liberty https://youtu.be/j3r-AYws6MY	Organiser – F Kendall
31	2016	Golden Gate	-Trevor Watkins - A visual history of the South African Libertarian Movement -Charl Heydenrych - an innovative libertarian solution to social ills -Daniella van Jaarsveldt - Feminism  - Gary Moore - Impressions of Oz -Peter Elstob - Why are we getting fatter? -Viv Vermaak - De-motivational speaking Winner of Ria Crafford award -Garth Zietsman - The psychology of political ideological differences - Stephen van Jaarsveldt - Self regulating markets, random walks and price determination -Paul Hjul - Income equality is real and does matter - Stephen van Jaarsveldt - practical libertarianism in business -Ron Weissenberg - The future, bright to moderately terrifying	Organiser – S van Jaarsveldt
32	2017	Wakkerstroom	- Eric Peers: 3B2E+ -Clive Coetzee: - The Economic Freedom & Growth Nexus in SA -Garth Zietsman: The Illusion of Rational Thinking -Gareth de Vaux: Bitcoin -Neil Emerick:Privacy in the Age of Big Data -Jenny Elstob:Six month overland trip into Africa -Bronwyn Kohler:Medical Tyranny -Peter Elstob:Beware Big Food & Big Pharma - update. -Rob Jeffrey:Pollution, Climate and the real energy sources for SA -Andrew Kenny:Free Energy is very expensive -Viv Vermaak: The top 3 reasons for spraying yourself in the face with Doom! Winner: Ria Crafford award Trevor Watkins:Consent, Anarchy and Consistency Gavin Weiman For, Leon Louw Against,  Debate: Libertarianism is underpinned by jurisprudence that goes beyond and supersedes the consent axiom and the NAP
33	2018	Wilderness	Rex van Schalkwyk - Central banking: the enabler of inequality https://youtu.be/cNF2U1xikbs   Sihle Ngobese of IRR (@BigDaddyLiberty) https://youtu.be/PDXD6i7DHWc   Martin Brassey - Libertarianism and Racism https://youtu.be/ETXo5r28cqQ   Ivo Vegter - Fashionable Food Fears https://youtu.be/prxKZseftY4   Colin Bower - Libertarianism - a personal lifestyle choice and not a policy https://youtu.be/pFNEu38L2DM   Garth Zietsman - Diversity https://youtu.be/7rJcETYEyT4   Frans Rautenbach - Educational Crisis https://youtu.be/DSbR3PvREI8   Andrew Kenny - History of Land Ownership Winner: Ria Crafford award https://youtu.be/jZ9YSLkzElE   Leon Louw and Kelvin Kemm - Nuclear Safety Lies! https://youtu.be/F64TFJH9Qqo   Martin van Staden - Expropriation without Compensation https://youtu.be/tiSpgRdHjFQ   Trevor Watkins and George Werner - Individualist Movement https://youtu.be/dsBc9NaXux8   10 minute presentations:- Martin Fey - The Servile Mind https://youtu.be/p419FHaCRWg   Ron Weissenberg - Makana Revive https://youtu.be/7pG26XhCx_8   Leon van Wyk - State of Local Government https://youtu.be/tjNo1EtVuOY	Gail Daus, Frances Kendall
34	2019	Velddrif	-Welcome to the West Coast. Chris van Niekerk, Evet Odendaal, Cllr Sandra Crafford -Freedom: The key factor in all successful societies David Steward -The impact of corruption on economic growth: Willem Heath -The art of bokkom eating. -How Jacob Zuma stole my country and the battle to win it back: Jacques Pauw Winner: Ria Crafford award -Legalizing Dagga: Myrtle Clarke -Justice without the state: Trevor Watkins  -Socialism vs Capitalism in the USA: Marian Tupy - Cato Institute USA ​-It’s the “Lights” Stupid! Dr Clive Coetzee -On Being a Robot Frances Kendall -Air show: commentator Brian Emmenis  -Creating a power empire: Menno Parsons -The art of tying knots: Networking Activity -Libertarianism vs Liberationism: Dr Piet Croucamp -The legal and social implications of sex-bots: Leon Louw -Irreconcilable differences between economics and politics: Stephen van Jaarsveldt  -The role of exchange control: Dr Dennis George -“Still Truckin” Folk Music Cabaret: Des and Dawn Lindberg -Freedom and Efficiency: Andrew Kenny -Succeeding at  secession: Jack Miller, Hein Marx,Des Palm, Christoff Smuts	Organisers: Clive Coetzee, Trevor Watkins, George Werner
35	2020	Zoom	Andrew Kenny: Climate Change Mel Ferguson: How I used government during lockdown Anthea Jeffery: The People's War Winner: Ria Crafford award Rob Duigan: Libertarian Morality Je'anna Clements: Self Directed Education Dumo Denga: Should we we concerned about inequality? Rakesh Wadhwa: Doing Business in the Third World Mpiyakhe Dhlamini: Regulations in South African Townships Leon Louw: Greenies Should Love Nuclear, Sceptics should love Coal, Economists should love Both Hügo Krüger: Covid19, Propaganda and Innumeracy	Organiser: Hugo Kruger, Trevor Watkins
36	2021	Nooitgedacht, Krugersdorp	-  Erik Peers Property Developer Love in the time of Covid-19 and Welcome -  Bronwyn Kohler Scientist Vaccination programs past and present-  Non disclosure -  Dr Douglas Shaw Advocate How to approach the Constitutional Court -  Gail Day Wanderer Have bicycle, will travel -  Nick Hudson Actuary Chairman PANDA Pandemic Data Analytics -  Garth Zietsman Statistician The evolutionary roots of Libertarianism -  Burninglash Entrepreneur: Consent in all matters -  Ayanda Khumalo Accountant In conversation with Erik Peers -  Dawie Roodt Economist The effects of lockdown policy on the economy Winner: Ria Crafford award -  Mitch van Den Bos: Farmer Profitable small scale farming -  Viv Vermaak Journalist Variant scariant -  Petrus Potgieter Mathematician #syfersigtig -  Ivo Vegter Journalist Public health in a liberal society -  Rex van Schalkwyk Judge The Rule of Law - what does this actually mean?	Organiser Erik Peers
37	2022	Grahamstown	Alan Weyer :Tour Guide – Our Town, Makhanda/Grahamstown David Comyn: Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) for the treatment of Cancer                                                                                                                                                                        Andrew Kirk: Businessman – Cameras, Community and Personal Safety                                                                                                                                                                                  Athol Trollip: Politician – My Political Journey. SA Politics – Quo Vadis                                                                                                                                                                                     Rod Amner: Journalist – The State of Local Journalism                                                                                                                                                                                       Mandisi Majavu: Academic - Racism in South Africa                                                                                                                                                       Andrew Craig: Academic – Honey Guides and Honey Hunters                                                                                                                                                        Viv Vermaak: Journalist – Hi, my name is Viv, and I am a Dronkie      Winner: Ria Crafford award                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Philip Machanik: Academic – A View from the Municipal Trenches                                                                                                                                        Petrus Potgieter: Academic – Porn and Regulation: “Who calls the shots”?                                                                                                                                                                  Andrew Tracey:  Academic – Musical Instruments and Music of Africa                                                                                                                                                                  Francesca Porri: Scientist- Larval Ecology and Why it Matters                                                                                                                                                                      Garth Cambray: Scientist - Bees, Mead and all things Tasty                                                                                                                                                                  Nyiko Mabasa:  Scientist - Domestic Aquaculture                                                                                                                                                                      William Yell: Farmer/Businessman – Cooking Oil, Fuel and Craft Beer	Organiser: Dittmar Eichhoff