What is SASI - the South African School of Individualism?

Brief History

SA has developed a unique libertarian intellectual tradition over the last 40 years. Starting with the very early pioneers such as Marc Swanepoel and Leon Louw meeting in small groups in private homes in Johannesburg in the early 1980’s, it has grown through various incarnations right through to the current day. Organisations such as the Free Market Foundation, the Libertarian Society and the Organisation of Livestock Producers were formed.  Frances Kendall produced The Individualist magazine monthly, and organised the first Libertarian Spring Seminar at Nebo farm in 1985. These annual seminars have continued through the intervening 40 years to the 2024 seminar held in December 2024  in Midrand. 

Two libertarian parties, KISS and the Federal party, contested the 1994 elections. Several other libertarian parties have contested subsequent elections.

The Libertarian Society organised by Trevor Watkins assembled a membership list of around 400 members, and produced The Libertarian Manifesto, a brief statement of libertarian principles. At a seminar in 2010, Trevor Watkins introduced the Consent Axiom, which has formed the unique philosophical foundation of South African libertarianism ever since.

In 2018 George Werner and Trevor Watkins launched The Individualist Movement based on The Individualist Manifesto to replace the now moribund Libertarian Society. This  website was set up, various email and whatsapp groups kept communications alive, Spring seminars were organised, but the mailing list dwindled to about 200 people, of which less than 40 are active.

Gabri Rigotti, a long-standing member and contributor based in Italy, observed that there was a unique school of libertarian thought in South Africa. Stephen van Jaarsveldt, another long-standing member of the Libertarian Society now living in Canada agreed. He recommended that a formal approach be taken to promote such a school of thought. This inspired Trevor Watkins to consider establishing a South African School of Individualism to breathe life back into the freedom philosophy in South Africa.

Why individualism rather than libertarianism?

Libertarians are a fringe group, with no clear identity. Currently the best definition of a libertarian is an individual who favours Liberty. That includes just about everyone.   Most of the time libertarians say that they believe in individual liberty without understanding or articulating the full implications of that statement.

We don't belong to anything. We don't know who our comrades are. We don't know what we believe, much less what they believe. We make no stand, we take no risks, we have no loyalties. We live in constant fear of the authority we so despise. Libertarians need an identity with which most can agree. Individualism can provide that identity.

Why a South African  school?

The outstanding difference between the South African freedom movement and its American counterpart is the emphasis on consent over force. In America the predominant libertarian narrative is based on the NAP - the non-aggression principle, the prohibition on the use of initiated force. There are numerous flaws in the NAP which the Consent Axiom addressed. From 2018 the South African Individualist Movement has refined its philosophy to become the Individualist Manifesto whose core principle is the HarmConsentRule (HCR). This is a uniquely South African development.

What is SASI?

SASI is a voluntary association of individuals who subscribe to a particular set of principles as expressed in the Individualist Manifesto and the HarmConsentRule. It is based in South Africa but not restricted to South Africans.

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Membership of SASI bestows a specific label and  identity on the member.  SASI will register individuals to one of 4 grades of membership - Ordinary (oSASI), Affiliate (aSASI), Fellow (fSASI) and Co-founder (cSASI). Becoming a member of SASI identifies you as an advocate of reason, individual rights, consent. It identifies you as an opponent of initiated force, authoritarianism, socialism and communism.  

SASI may become a standard for the freedom movement, a reference for difficult issues, a go-to for journalists seeking a reasoned and consistent position.

Terms of membership

1. Applicant individuals will provide their full names, email address and cell-phone number on the prescribed online form. The Management of SASI reserves the right to accept or reject applications.

2. Members may choose which  SASI communications to receive.

3. Once accepted for membership they may use the appropriate membership suffix after their names in communications.

4. Cost of membership

   1. Ordinary - oSASI -free

   2. Affiliate - aSASI - $5 or R100. Access to SASI T shirt.

   3. Fellow - fSASI - $20 or R400. Fellow members are encouraged to submit an article  for publication in the Journal of the South African School of Individualism. Free SASI T shirt.

   4. Co-founder - list of paid-up original founders of the Individualist Movement.

Benefits of membership

1. You make an unequivocal commitment to a clearly stated philosophical position, to a specific worldview and value system.

2. Your membership makes you relevant and engaged in the great struggle for individual freedom against the forces of communal authoritarianism.

3. Access to all SASI facilities - discussion groups, blogs, websites, seminar notices, Discord server, videos, etc.

4. Exposure to and interchange with like-minded fellows on important issues.

5. A suffix you can use in profiles and email signatures to identify your affiliation.

6. Contribution to a worthwhile freedom-oriented cause.

7. Solidarity with fellow SASI members.

8. Opportunity to shape future SASI policies through debate and scholarly articles.

9. Opportunity to purchase a SASI T shirt

10. A SASI suffix allows instant recognition of a like-minded individual 

Issues

1. What if I don’t agree with all the principles in the Individualist Manifesto eg the trial by jury clause?
   There are always grey areas, no matter how hard we try to resolve them. Finally, you alone must decide if you can accept the principles. You can always suggest changes if you become involved.

Next steps

1. Register

   1. online at Individualist Movement website

   2. Via email to base37@gmail.com