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.

AfriForum demands information from Thabazimbi Municipality after complaints of corruption and mismanagement

AfriForum today sent an internal appeal to the Thabazimbi Local Municipality after the Municipality failed to respond to a formal application in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) that the organisation had already sent on 3 October. This follows after AfriForum have been receiving several complaints about the approval process of building plans and the encouragement to pay so-called rush fees.

AfriForum’s PAIA application was specifically aimed at obtaining information about the criteria, process lines and allegations of corruption in the approval process of building plans. AfriForum has received many complaints about the delays in obtaining building permits. The delays are often linked to individuals not paying an unofficial “rush fee” – a practice that appears to be linked to alleged corruption at the municipality. After paying this fraudulent fee, applicants’ building permits are approved immediately.

This challenge is further compounded by the announcement that Treasury intends to suspend funding to the Thabazimbi Municipality and four other municipalities with a combined value of almost R500 million. This move is aimed at forcing municipalities to start paying their debts to water boards. The Thabazimbi Local Municipality owes Magalies Water more than R216 million – this is a clear indication of financial mismanagement.

According to Charné Mostert, Campaign Officer for Corruption at AfriForum, the lack of response and the escalation of financial debt demonstrate the serious absence of transparency and accountability. “The combination of alleged corruption and financial mismanagement makes it almost impossible to ensure any level of service delivery to the community,” says Mostert. AfriForum calls on the public to continue to report corruption and mismanagement in their communities. “Transparency is the cornerstone of good governance and therefore AfriForum will not allow this internal appeal to disappear into thin air,” concludes Mostert.

By-elections are expected to be held on 4 December, which will be crucial for the future governance structure of the Thabazimbi Local Municipality.