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.

DWS supports joint testing of Stellenbosch sewage water

ByAfriForum 26/11/202426/11/2024

Today, the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) requested AfriForum to coordinate a joint inspection and collection of treated effluent samples at the Stellenbosch Wastewater Treatment Works with the Stellenbosch Municipality and DWS. Following rumours about the disposal of untreated sewage into the Veldwagters and Eerste Rivers, AfriForum has engaged in a fierce battle for more than a year to assess the quality of treated effluent at this municipality’s Stellenbosch Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Despite data from DWS’s integrated regulatory information system (Iris) also showing that the Stellenbosch Wastewater Treatment Plant does not meet biological and microbiological standards, the municipality still maintains that the quality of treated effluent here is up to standard.

However, the Stellenbosch Municipality has today renewed its commitment to transparency and protection of the environment. AfriForum welcomes this move and emphasises that cooperation between the civil rights organisation and the municipality is essential in order for action to be taken in the interest of Stellenbosch’s residents and economy.

A hand of cooperation was recently extended to AfriForum by the municipality’s mayor, Gesie van Deventer. Under Van Deventer’s guidance, the parties involved agreed to jointly investigate allegations of the dumping of inadequately treated effluent. AfriForum welcomes the mayor’s intervention in the interest of the Stellenbosch community and to promote cooperation.

It became apparent during the meeting that AfriForum’s data and that of the Stellenbosch Municipality differed, and that joint water testing is a step in the right direction.

According to Jacques Benade, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for the Boland, the municipality’s willingness to work together is a first and critical victory in the interests of Stellenbosch’s residents. “DWS’s request that AfriForum, DWS, the municipality, as well as an independent consultant, should each take samples for testing at an accredited laboratory is a huge success,” explains Benade.

(Cover image: Stellenbosch Wastewater Treatment Works | Zutari)

Media statements

Lesufi retracts assassination allegations against AfriForum; says he regrets statements

ByAfriForum 24/10/202124/10/2021

Panyaza Lesufi, Gauteng MEC for Education, officially retracted his allegations that AfriForum attempted to assassinate him and stalked his children….