Who and what is AfriForum?

AfriForum is an Afrikaans civil rights organisation that protects the rights of minority groups at national as well as provincial level, and anyone who can identify with AfriForum’s principles and objectives may join the organisation. AfriForum’s community plan focuses on mobilising communities to thus take control of their own streets and neighbourhoods again. AfriForum ensures that your constitutional and civil rights are recognised and protected at national level.

Wie en wat is AfriForum?

AfriForum is ’n Afrikaanse burgerregteorganisasie wat die regte van minderheidsgroepe op sowel nasionale as provinsiale vlak beskerm, en enigiemand wat met AfriForum se beginsels en doelstellings kan identifiseer, mag by die organisasie aansluit. AfriForum se gemeenskapsplan fokus daarop om gemeenskappe te mobiliseer om só weer beheer terug te neem oor hul eie strate en woonbuurtes. AfriForum verseker dat jou grondwetlike én burgerregte op nasionale vlak erken en beskerm word.

AFRIFORUM- SUCCESS: AUGUST 2019

NORTHERN REGION

GAUTENG

After many reports on the quality of drinking water in the Hammanskraal area recently appeared in the media, AfriForum took water samples there and found that the water is not suitable for human use.
The National Energy Regulator of South Africa, Nersa, announced the increased electricity tariff that the Tshwane metro may implement for the 2019/2020 term. The 2018/2019 rate is up 13,07%.
The management team of AfriForum’s Project Nehemiah on the East Rand provided clothes and blankets and assisted two families in Esther Park, Kempton Park whose homes burnt down.
AfriForum branches in Alberton, Benoni, Boksburg and Springs received new equipment, including bulletproof jackets, patrol magnets, collapsible cones and national radios.
About 55 AfriForum neighbourhood watch patrol officers on the East Rand participated in the SAPS Operation Masakhane in Kempton Park. Two arrests were made and several drugs, an illegal firearm and a bank bag with gold were confiscated.
About 54 branch management members from the East Rand attended AfriForum’s Regional Summit of Hope during which practical plans were devised and the theme #VegEnBou was introduced to branch managements.

Vanderbijlpark

AfriForum’s Vanderbijlpark branch has repaired potholes around Laerskool D.F. Malherbe in collaboration with parents of the school.

Roodepoort

AfriForum’s Roodepoort branch has secured the community by participating in various security actions and raids.

Kempton Park

AfriForum’s Kempton Park branch has written letters to the mayor of Ekurhuleni after various appeals regarding water shortages and refuse removal problems. The mayor’s office has undertaken to investigate and provide feedback to the community.

AfriForum’s Kempton Park neighbourhood watch has done the following:
- provided assistance to a member of the community whose lapa burnt down;
- assisted a resident when the trees in her yard were vandalised;
- provided medical assistance on three motor vehicle accident scenes;
- provided medical assistance to a family where an elderly person had a head injury after he fell;
- reported unmanned vehicles and the absence of guards during the cash download at a mall to the SBV cash transport company;
- assisted a member of the community who has been robbed of his Rolex watch;
- checked the registration of a suspicious vehicle because the license plates were presumed to be false;
- offered free self-defence training and an anti-rape workshop in collaboration with the SAPS in Kempton Park for women’s month; it was attended by about 50 women; and
- provided vehicle control training to approximately 40 patrollers in collaboration with the local reservists.

Alberton

AfriForum’s Alberton branch has written several letters to the City of Ekurhuleni regarding the ongoing power outages in the community. After sustained pressure by the branch, a community meeting was scheduled by councillors.

Springs

AfriForum’s Endicott farm watch painted 10 speed bumps, 5 stop signs and 4 fire hydrants with paint provided by the local municipality.
AfriForum’s Springs branch has renovated the floor of the dining hall in Rus-‘n-Bietjie Old Age Home.
AfriForum’s Springs branch has provided a new water pump for the Endicott and Vischkuil communities’ water car.
After sustained pressure by AfriForum’s Endicott farm watch, several water leaks were repaired, fire hydrants were replaced and the R42/R29 was partially painted.
AfriForum’s Springs branch met with the SAPS to discuss a proactive approach to crime.
AfriForum’s Endicott farm watch met with the Lesedi municipality to discuss local service delivery problems.

Benoni

AfriForum’s Benoni neighbourhood watch held a mass patrol to improve policing visibility. Sixty-one patrollers showed up to make a difference. They travelled 1 359 km in 215 man-hours.

Moot

AfriForum’s branch in Die Moot has repaired the palisades at the railway track in collaboration with the neighbourhood watch and the community. Prior to that, both the Moot and the East Moot neighbourhood watches participated in foot patrols from the Gezina to the Queenswood train station to identify problems. During the foot patrols, it was noted that the palisades were broken down by criminals for quick escape routes.

East Moot

AfriForum’s neighbourhood watch in the East Moot sharpened up security in their area by repairing holes in the railway fence. Prior to that, both the Moot and the East Moot neighbourhood watches participated in foot patrols from the Gezina to the Queenswood train station to identify problems. During the foot patrols, it was noted that the palisades were broken down by criminals for quick escape routes.

Meyerspark

A member of the community informed AfriForum’s Meyerspark neighbourhood watch that several suspects were breaking into someone’s garage. The neighbourhood watch responded immediately and informed the metro police and the SAPS. Members of the neighbourhood watch arrested a suspect in collaboration with the metro police and the SAPS after a member of the metro police fired warning shots.

Kameeldrift

AfriForum’s Kameeldrift neighbourhood watch has been actively patrolling the past few months to increase visibility in the area. This has reduced crime incidents from about 15 to about 2 a month.

MPUMALANGA

AfriForum’s environmental business team helped to prevent a coal mine from being started hard up against the Kruger National Park. Criminal fraud charges were filed against Singo Consulting after it was revealed that their impact study reports had been plagiarised.

White River

AfriForum’s White River branch helped the Machadodorp branch to purchase a fire-fighting unit.
Members of AfriForum’s White River branch assisted an old age home with a generator after the transformer supplying the town’s power failed and the elderly’s life-support devices’ batteries became depleted.
AfriForum’s White River neighbourhood watch assisted members of the Spioenkop community when their land was occupied.
Members of AfriForum’s White River branch attended the Regional Summit of Hope in Centurion.

Nelspruit

AfriForum’s Nelspruit branch has purchased a firefighting unit so they can assist with firefighting.
AfriForum’s Nelspruit branch helped the Machadodorp branch to purchase a fire-fighting unit.
Members of AfriForum’s Nelspruit branch attended the Regional Summit of Hope in Centurion.
AfriForum’s Nelspruit branch launched a monthly cleaning project in collaboration with We CARE 4 Nelspruit.

Bethal

The dustbin project of AfriForum’s Bethal branch is sustainable; 30 dustbins in Bethal’s town centre are serviced weekly.
AfriForum’s Bethal branch repaired Gemsbok Street and part of Buffel Street.
The water point of AfriForum’s Bethal branch is ready to support the community if Bethal is without water again.

Belfast

Members of AfriForum’s Belfast branch attended the Regional Summit of Hope in Centurion.

Lydenburg

AfriForum’s Lydenburg branch conducted tests on the sewerage plant and found it was not working. They sent a letter to the municipality after which the municipality acknowledged the plant was not functioning properly. AfriForum is in the process of solving the problem.
Members of AfriForum’s Lydenburg branch attended the Regional Summit of Hope in Centurion.

Middelburg

Members of AfriForum’s Middelburg branch attended the Regional Summit of Hope in Centurion.
AfriForum’s Middelburg branch was reorganised, and a new management was elected.

Piet Retief

AfriForum’s Piet Retief neighbourhood watch held a mass patrol.
AfriForum’s Piet Retief branch held cleaning actions in the town.
Members of AfriForum’s Piet Retief branch attended the Regional Summit of Hope in Centurion.

Standerton

AfriForum’s Standerton neighbourhood watch helped to put out fires in and around the town.
AfriForum’s Standerton neighbourhood watch held a mass patrol.
AfriForum’s Standerton neighbourhood watch recovered stolen sheep and made arrests.
AfriForum’s Standerton branch assisted the community with cracked water pipes and blocked sewerage lines.
AfriForum’s Standerton neighbourhood watch received tactical training in August.
Members of AfriForum’s Standerton branch attended the Regional Summit of Hope in Centurion.

Teks (Trichardt, Evander, Kinross and Secunda)

AfriForum’s Teks neighbourhood watch helped to regulate traffic at an accident scene.
AfriForum’s Teks neighbourhood watch held a visibility patrol with the SAPS; seven arrests were made for, among others, possession of stolen goods, drunk driving and alcohol abuse in public.
AfriForum’s Teks branch did maintenance at the Dawieshof Old Age Home.
AfriForum’s Teks neighbourhood watch held a mass patrol.
Members of AfriForum’s Teks branch attended the Regional Summit of Hope in Centurion.

Delmas

AfriForum’s Delmas branch installed a pressure pump to supply water to a school that was without water.
AfriForum’s Delmas neighbourhood watch held visibility patrols to protect the community.
Members of AfriForum’s Delmas branch attended the Regional Summit of Hope in Centurion.

Witbank

Members of AfriForum’s Witbank branch attended the Regional Summit of Hope in Centurion.

CENTRAL REGION

NORTH WEST

Vryburg

AfriForum’s Vryburg branch started a long-term project to repair potholes.
AfriForum’s Vryburg branch repaired the fence around the monuments.

Bloemhof

AfriForum’s Bloemhof branch is fighting with the municipality over the unlawful installation of prepaid electricity meters.

Hertzogville

AfriForum’s Hertzogville branch is putting pressure on the municipality to restore the water supply.

FREE STATE

Welkom

AfriForum’s Welkom branch has placed the Matjhabeng Local Municipality on terms regarding raw sewage that flows into the backyards of various residential areas in the Doorn extension.
AfriForum’s Welkom branch has placed the Matjhabeng Local Municipality on terms in July this year because none of the landfill sites within the municipality’s jurisdiction met the national requirements. The municipality responded to AfriForum’s sustained pressure.
AfriForum’s Welkom branch established an air support wing at Welkom Airport after it purchased a drone earlier this year to combat crime in the area. André Coetzee, AfriForum’s regional safety coordinator, gave a presentation on the legal aspects of flying drones during this event.

KWAZULU-NATAL

AfriForum Natal is planning a project to do something about roaming livestock in collaboration with the SAPS, Department of Transport and Cogte.
AfriForum won a court case against the Department of Education. The department is now required by the court to build a school for the Nkandla community.
AfriForum Natal has requested the SAPS to take more stringent action against illegal hunting with dogs in the province.

Newcastle

AfriForum’s Newcastle branch held a community meeting which was attended by Mr Flip Buys.
AfriForum’s Newcastle branch started a project to fight high municipal rates.

Vryheid

AfriForum’s Vryheid branch protect their community with daily patrols.
AfriForum’s Vryheid branch organised a stall at the local Paddadam market day.
AfriForum’s Vryheid branch has requested the Department of Environmental Affairs to do something about the smouldering landfill site.

Margate

AfriForum’s Margate branch filed criminal charges against the municipal manager over the dumping of sewage in the Umzimkulwane River.
AfriForum’s Margate branch held a community meeting which was attended by Mr Flip Buys.
The youth in AfriForum’s Margate branch participated in the beach cleaning project.
AfriForum’s Margate branch helped with the Oppi Kus Music Festival.
AfriForum’s Margate branch held a community meeting in Harding.

Hluhluwe

AfriForum’s Hluhluwe branch protected their community by patrolling with the SAPS.

Pongola

AfriForum’s Pongola branch held proactive patrols to protect their community.

Paulpietersburg

AfriForum’s Paulpietersburg branch held a community meeting which was attended by Adv Gerrie Nel.
AfriForum’s Paulpietersburg branch keeps their community safe with proactive patrols.

SOUTHERN REGION

NORTHERN CAPE

Upington

AfriForum’s Upington branch has written to the municipality about sewage flowing directly into the canal.

Postmasburg

AfriForum’s Postmasburg branch has written to the municipality about sewage problems at the cemetery.

WESTERN CAPE

Mossel Bay

The safety officer and safety coordinator of AfriForum’s Mossel Bay branch conducted a safety assessment of the Mossel Bay area, with specific focus on the rural areas. It promoted the security initiative.

Oudtshoorn

AfriForum’s branch in Oudtshoorn has joined a local forum that aims to clean and sustain the Grobbelaars River. The river runs through the town and has become a landfill for garbage bags. The uncontrollably growing reeds also provide shelter for criminals. That will be handled now.

Hessequa

AfriForum’s Hessequa branch held two successful information meetings in Albertinia and Jongensfontein. Both were attended well, and the community was informed about AfriForum’s activities and successes with the improvement of the community’s safety.

Helderberg Basin

The youth wing of AfriForum’s Helderberg Basin branch visited Solidarity Helping Hand’s Ons Plek centre in Strand where the youth had a new geyser installed.
David Olivier, AfriForum’s security coordinator in the southern region, trained AfriForum’s Helderberg Basin neighbourhood watch in Gordon’s Bay in handling crime scenes and patrol skills. This is part of the training program developed by AfriForum’s security structures to expand and strengthen their safety network.

Malmesbury

David Olivier, AfriForum’s security coordinator in the southern region, trained AfriForum’s Rondeberg neighbourhood watch in in handling crime scenes, preserving evidence and radio speech procedures. About 40 community members attended.

Overstrand

AfriForum’s Alfa neighbourhood watch in Hermanus retrieved a stolen boat in collaboration with the SAPS and private security companies. The boat was stolen in Stanford at about 22:00 and was found at about 22:28 after ready community members reported it.

Robertson

An AfriForum branch was established in Robertson.
AfriForum’s Robertson branch established a neighbourhood watch to assist the community in times of need in collaboration with police and other local security agencies.

Velddrif

David Olivier, AfriForum’s security coordinator in the southern region, trained the AfriForum neighbourhood watch in Velddrif in dealing with crime scenes and patrol skills so that they can combat crime in their community and assist and prepare members of the community.
The AfriForum neighbourhood watch in Velddrif, together with the police and other security role players, held a visibility patrol in De Plaat, Velddrif, Port Owen and Laaiplek. It lasted from 21:00 to 00:00 and increased visibility.