The death rates from ischaemic heart disease (IHD) of White South Africans in districts where more than 80% were Afrikaners were compared with those for the rest of the country. The rates for the predominantly Afrikaans districts were higher for males under the age of 50 years and for females under 55 years. Approximately a quarter of the IHD deaths up to these ages were associated with the unique Afrikaner component. The rates for non-Afrikaner females were similar to those for females in the USA. The rates for non-Afrikaner males, however, were higher.