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.

Community Affairs Media statements | Media statements

Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality is deceiving residents about disaster area

ByAfriForum 27/09/202327/09/2023

The Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality is deceiving the residents of this municipality after it was announced last week that the area where a devastating wildfire broke out on 16 September will be declared a disaster area. During this fire, 12 houses burned down and 37 other houses and structures were damaged. Legislation requires that when an area is declared a disaster area it must be published in the Government Gazette and the regulations of the disaster must be detailed. However, the disaster area has still not been officially announced in the Government Gazette.

When an area is declared a disaster area, it is supposed to be easier for those who have been hit hardest by a disaster to receive help. “However, AfriForum is concerned that if the disaster area is not officially announced in the Government Gazette with the accompanying regulations, this will lead to more uncertainty in the community. If this municipality has access to more funds that are supposed to bring relief in the disaster area and it is not properly regulated, the community will continue to suffer,” says Tarien Cooks, Disaster Management Specialist at AfriForum.

Last week, AfriForum met with the Phalaborwa community and other organisations about the wildfire. “During this meeting, the community highlighted two major concerns, namely water supply and pressure, as well as the vegetation that is getting out of hand in the town. The fire danger in this area is currently very high and uncontrolled vegetation and uncertainty about water supply contribute to the risk that another fire could break out in this town,” says Hendrik Kotze, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for the Waterberg.

The local AfriForum branch is currently helping to put the necessary contingency plans in place.