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.

Community Affairs Media statements | Media statements

Refuse removal: AfriForum submits 654 exemption applications to Mangaung Metro

ByAfriForum 15/05/202415/05/2024

The ongoing challenges with refuse removal and the management of this service by the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality forced the civil rights watchdog AfriForum to act. The organisation’s Bloemfontein branch submitted 654 exemption applications on behalf of its members to request that the Mangaung Metro exempt them from paying for the refuse removal service. From now on, these members will instead use a private service provider.

The Mangaung Metro claimed that they received only four exemption applications last year although 654 were submitted. The Metro has 14 days to respond to the exemption applications.

“We as consumers must have the right to decide on service providers, especially when we are paying for a service that is not provided. Since the beginning of May, refuse removal by the Metro has decreased, which means that people have to use private service providers in any case, although they still have to pay the Metro,” says Christo Groenewald, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for Bloemfontein.

According to Groenewald, the community receives no communication from the Metro about reasons why the services are slow and what the solutions are. “This is unacceptable. The promises that the Metro makes from time to time are empty, meanwhile our beautiful city is becoming a garbage dump.”

AfriForum started in August last year to help the community with their exemption applications. Since 2020, AfriForum has also been providing a sustainable refuse removal service in Bloemfontein and the community can join this service at www.vullisverwydering.co.za.