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.

Media statements | Private prosecution Media statements

ALLEGED MURDERER FINALLY IN COURT AFTER CONTINUOUS PRESSURE

ByAfriForum 28/07/202106/09/2021

A murder suspect finally appeared in court today after continuous pressure by AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) made a U-turn with regards to its original decision not to prosecute the accused in a murder case after AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit assisted the complainant in the case.

The husband of the complainant in the case was shot dead in January 2020 in Richards Bay while she also sustained a bullet wound to her hand.

The complainant and her husband on 26 January 2020 observed a commotion in the neighbourhood and went to investigate. The accused fired off a shot that led to the death of the complainant’s husband. The same bullet hit the complainant in her hand. The alleged murderer lived in the same neighbourhood as the victims.

The deceased’s family decided to emigrate to the USA as a result of the incident. The SAPS investigated the crime, but the NPA initially failed to prosecute. This despite the fact that the police investigation concluded that the bullet and used cartridge found on the scene was fired off with a firearm registered in the name of the accused.

AfriForum assisted the complainant by bringing an application for a nolle prosequi certificate, after which the NPA made a U-turn regarding its decision not to prosecute.

“Sometimes one thinks you cannot be shocked any further by the careless attitude of the SAPS and the NPA when it comes to certain cases, but then something like this happens. There is clear evidence that the accused caused the death of the victim and the ballistic tests even show that it was his firearm that was used in the incident. The authorities nevertheless decided not to prosecute until AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit became involved and then all of a sudden they decided to continue. It is extremely disappointing,” says Jacques Broodryk, AfriForum’s Manager of Campaigns.

The case has been postponed until 30 July 2021.