AfriForum assists neighbourhood watch members during seven court cases

The civil rights organisation AfriForum assisted two of its Ellisras neighbourhood watch members during seven court cases. This followed after the two neighbourhood watch members were criminally charged and the case being thrown out of court on 27 June 2018.

The two neighbourhood watch members were charged after they reacted to an emergency call that game poachers were present in the area. While they patrolled the area, they noticed a suspicious vehicle on the side of the road, with freezers on the back. They stopped at the vehicle along with other members of the neighbourhood watch to make sure all was in order. Thereafter everyone, including the driver of the vehicle, left the scene. A day later, however, the driver of the vehicle submitted a criminal charge with the South African Police Service (SAPS) and accused the two neighbourhood watch members of theft.

AfriForum obtained legal counsel to assist the members after the police wanted to arrest the members on 8 and 9 February. One neighbourhood watch member was held in the court cells for two hours, after which the member was released on bail with the help of an attorney which was appointed by AfriForum.

According to Jaco Grobbelaar, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for Limpopo, both the members’ codes of conduct and forms were in order and therefore AfriForum could quickly and efficiently assist them. “The neighbourhood watch members acted within the framework of the law, which made it possible for us to assist them. We will defend any neighbourhood watch members and support them with legal aid, provided that they act within the law and have signed our neighbourhood watch code of conduct,” says Grobbelaar.

Gideon de Jager, AfriForum’s neighbourhood watch Chairperson in Ellisras, expressed his gratitude for the assistance that AfriForum provided to the members and especially because the neighbourhood watch members and their families were spared great financial losses. “The legal aid that AfriForum provided to these members was remarkable. After seven court cases we can comfortably say that the monthly membership of R50 that is paid to AfriForum is worth it, and I advise any person who wants to become involved with the neighbourhood watch to become part of this structure as well,” says De Jager.

AfriForum encourages members of the community to become a part of the neighbourhood watch by sending an SMS with “Veiligheid” to 45340 (R1) and making a difference together.