AfriForum makes light work of garbage removal

The civil rights organisation AfriForum offered their help in the Tshwane Metro on 8 August to assist with the ongoing garbage removal crisis. This came because the continued strike left residents disheartened.

AfriForum’s Garsfontein branch, which includes Faerie Glen, was contacted by Betsie Basson, the ward councillor for Ward 45, to help with the garbage crisis seeing as the garbage from several areas in the community has not been removed for more than four weeks.

While the metro tries to continue service delivery, striking workers from the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) make it almost impossible. The strike is in response to the metro council’s decision not to incorporate salary increases in its 2023-24 budget and has already led to the dismissal of almost 100 workers.

“AfriForum understands that this illegal strike makes it extremely difficult for the metro to maintain service delivery. That is why the Garsfontein branch decided to help councillor Basson and the wider community,” says Dewet Ungerer, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for Greater Pretoria South.

After considering various possibilities, the branch decided to use a private company to handle the garbage removal and bring relief to the area in question.

“This initiative is only a temporary solution, but AfriForum structures in the Tshwane metro will work with other role players to find solutions to help communities as far as we can. I would also like to thank Forum Sekuriteit and Golan Tactical for keeping everyone safe today,” concludes Ungerer.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank AfriForum’s Garsfontein branch for their support during these unusual times, where they agreed without hesitation to help the community. It’s good to know that we can collaborate to bring change for the benefit of our communities,” says Basson.

AfriForum’s Garsfontein branch encourages the public to become involved and make a difference. Send an e-mail to Dewet Ungerer at dewet.ungerer@afriforum.co.za with the reference “Garsfontein” or follow this branch’s Facebook page.