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.

Illegal mining operations: 76 mines mining without water licenses

AfriForum insists on immediate action and accountability regarding the recent revelation that 76 mines in South Africa are operating without the required water licenses in several of South Africa’s largest rivers. These facts are shocking and raise urgent questions about the effectiveness of the government’s regulation of mining operations and the protection of South Africa’s water resources.

The revelation by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) that ten of these illegal mines are active in the Vaal River, which supplies water to millions of people in Gauteng, parts of Mpumalanga, North West and the Free State, is particularly worrying. “The Vaal River is a vital source of drinking water and livelihood for a large part of our population. We cannot allow this precious resource to be threatened,” says Lambert de Klerk, manager of Environmental Affairs at AfriForum.

AfriForum considers it unacceptable that the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy and DWS do not communicate effectively, and that the authorities were not aware of these illegal practices in time. This shows a serious lack of coordination and supervision of these operations, which have a direct impact on communities and their environment.

De Klerk is of the opinion that all illegal mining operations must be suspended immediately, while a thorough investigation of each of these cases takes place. “We insist that severe fines be imposed on the companies that have violated these laws, and that they be held fully accountable for their actions.”

“Unfortunately, this is only one aspect of illegal mining operations in South Africa. There are many of these types of mining operations across South Africa that are not regulated – such as where mines mine beyond their permissible limits and so on,” De Klerk continues.

“We also want to know where the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment is in this situation. It is essential that they play a role in ensuring the long-term environmental sustainability of these operations and that they act strictly against any harmful impact that there may be on the environment.”

AfriForum is determined to uphold the rights of communities and the protection of the environment. The organisation will follow up on this case to ensure that the responsible parties are held accountable for their harmful actions.