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 supports attack victim during court case

AfriForum’s Trauma Support Unit supported Meisie Reyneke on 26 November 2019 in the Fochville court. Reyneke and her husband Lammie were attacked at Kolgans Dam outside Fochville in 2018 while they were camping. Lammie died during the attack.

The couple was camping at the dam when two suspects entered their tent on 13 October 2018 and attacked them. The suspects hit Meisie with a hammer and stabbed her with a screw driver while Lammie was also stabbed with a screw driver and hit over the head with a rock.

One of the two suspects appeared in court on charges of murder and the intent to do bodily harm. The other suspect had died before he could appear in court. The case has been postponed to 12 February 2020.

“AfriForum’s trauma officers understand that every victim’s trauma and needs are different and for that reason we support victims of violent crime in different ways. We not only help them with legal aspects, but assist them continuously in order for them to move forward and regain hope for the future,” says Magda Coetzee, Trauma Support Officer at AfriForum’s Trauma Support Unit.

AfriForum’s Trauma Support Unit was created in 2015 in order to assist trauma victims. This year the unit has already supported 220 adults and 47 children during 104 trauma incidents. The unit assists victims of farm attacks and armed robberies; and supports people who are affected by a suicide or who were molested or raped. In 2019 so far, the unit gave support during 11 farm murders, 58 farm attacks, nine murders, six molestations/rapes, three suicides, 11 armed robberies and six other incidents where victims needed support. A total of 35 of these cases were in Gauteng, 28 in North West, eight in Limpopo, seven in Mpumalanga, five in the Free State, seven in KwaZulu-Natal, six in the Eastern Cape, four in the Northern Cape and four in the Western Cape.

The Trauma Support Unit supports victims in overcoming basic medical challenges, provides food to needy victims and buy clothes when necessary; assists victims when they have to give statements and during court proceedings; and in some cases, offers victims the necessary psychological support.

The Trauma Support Unit established a fund to support victims. Make a donation to the fund or send an email to trauma@afriforum.co.za for more information.

Beneficiary: AfriForum NPC
Bank: FNB
Account number: 623 498 983 98
Branch: Centurion
Branch code: 261 550
Reference: Trauma Support Fund