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.

Media statements | Safety Media statements

AfriForum publishes manual on how to prevent rising cases of property hijacking and how victims should respond

ByAfriForum 30/08/202230/08/2022

The civil rights organisation AfriForum today published a manual on its website that advises the public on their rights regarding property hijacking, exactly how to prevent this rising problem as well as how victims should react in these situations.

In South Africa, the hijacking of residential and other types of properties is on the rise and organised syndicates have mobilised in the face of state inaction and outdated and impractical legislation. Organised property hijacking syndicates force their way into occupied or vacant properties, forcibly evict tenants or owners, and replace them with tenants of their choice. Recent incidents especially occurred in Pretoria East while the owners were on holiday. In Cape Town there has recently also been an increase in property hijackings.

“It is better to prevent a crime than to react to it. That is why AfriForum is helping its members and the public in general, to position themselves in such a way as to prevent property from being invaded or hijacked. This is of course more cost-effective than paying the legal costs associated with obtaining an eviction order,” says Ernst van Zyl, Campaign Officer for Strategy and Content at AfriForum.

“It is worrying that the South African Police Service most of the time are unwilling or just not equipped to act accordingly to cases of invasion of property, because of the lack of resources. For this reason, it is a good idea to get involved with an AfriForum security structure in your area,” concludes Van Zyl.

• Click here to read the manual.