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.

Farm murders Media statements | Media statements

Farm attackers sentenced for murder of Engelbrecht couple

By 17/07/202003/11/2020

AfriForum and the organisation’s Trauma Support Unit welcome the sentence imposed by Judge David Makoba on two farm attackers in the North Gauteng High Court today. The two accused, Julius Mapayi Goncalves and Jossias Nhalungo, both from Mozambique, each received two life sentences and 25 years for the murder of Fanie (78) and Colleen Engelbrecht (74) as well as robbery with aggravating circumstances and for the possession of illegal firearms. Judge Makoba found them guilty on 7 February 2020 already, but sentencing was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Engelbrecht couple were brutally murdered on Mother’s Day in 2018 on their farm Welgevonden on the West Rand when they returned from church. Colleen was burned with an iron and strangled with its cord, and Fanie’s throat was slit. Only a tablet computer, cell phone, cash and two firearms were looted.

Marius Muller, national operational coordinator at AfriForum, today gave evidence on the brutality of farm attacks. He also testified that there had been 169 farm attacks and 23 farm murders so far this year.

“We are relieved about the sentence, but the grief will be with the family for a long time to come. Notwithstanding the sentence we will continue supporting the family,” says Magda Coetzee, trauma support officer at AfriForum’s Trauma Support Unit.