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 | Private prosecution Media statements

MORE WITNESSES CALLED IN CASE AGAINST ALLEGED RAPIST

ByAfriForum 16/07/202106/09/2021

AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit called its second witness today in the Regional Court in Somerset East in the prosecution of the alleged rapist Andile Memese.

The Private Prosecution Unit, headed by Adv. Gerrie Nel, represents the victim, Celeste Gouws. Gouws was raped in her house in 2017 after she had presumably been drugged. The Director of Public Prosecutions in the Eastern Cape initially refused to prosecute Memese, despite overwhelming evidence against him. AfriForum is of the opinion that the handling of the matter has up to now pointed to political interference, as Memese and his family have political ties.

Gouws testified earlier today that Memese had repeatedly demanded her to take a bath with him. The footage also shows Memese exchanging his own glass with hers, and minutes later she becomes unstable.

Gouws testified that she eventually had to contact a friend to keep her company at the guest house that she managed, because Memese did not cease his unacceptable behaviour. After the friend had escorted Memese out, the footage shows the accused slipping into the house minutes later. He then forces Gouws to her bedroom.

Gouws’s former neighbour, Marita de Lange, testified today. She told how she had heard a women’s crying on the evening of the incident, asking it to stop. De Lange did not know what to make of the incident, as the previous residents had apparently been very noisy. She only found out later that Gouws was inside the house and had been raped on that evening.

“If you consider the proof against Memese and listen to the bloodcurdling evidence, it is incomprehensible why the NPA refused to prosecute Memese. The only conclusion to come to is that someone interfered inappropriately in the case to protect Memese. It is enough to make you furious,” says Jacques Broodryk, AfriForum’s Campaigns Manager.

The case was postponed until 25 January 2022.