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.

The world has a new outlook on and interest in South Africa’s crises and solutions

Representatives of two institutions of the Solidarity Movement, AfriForum and the Afrikaner Foundation, this week attended the National Conservatism Conference (NatCon 4) in the American capital, Washington, DC. Ernst Roets, Executive Director of the Afrikaner Foundation, was invited to this conference as a guest speaker. In his speech, Roets emphasised the Solidarity Movement’s do-it-yourself successes and the West’s rediscovery of the Afrikaner community.

He also pointed out that, after the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902), Afrikaners discovered that community institutions were the most sustainable way to ensure a future for the community. However, in the second half of the twentieth century, Afrikaners’ emphasis shifted from building community institutions to building a strong state to find solutions to the country’s problems. In the past few decades, Afrikaners have rediscovered the power of community institutions.

“The rest of the world can learn a lot from Afrikaners in this regard,” says Roets. In his presentation, he explained that a community only thrives through its institutions and that strong institutions can empower a community – even if the state does not favour them.

In addition to Roets’ presentation, he and AfriForum’s Head of Public Relations, Ernst van Zyl, held several discussions and meetings with opinion makers, politicians and organisations interested in the current state of affairs in South Africa and how minority groups, such as Afrikaners, in particular, respond to circumstances.

According to Van Zyl, there has been a clear shift in the international zeitgeist regarding South Africa and Afrikaners.

“Ten years ago, those we encountered internationally knew little about South Africa’s crises. Five years later, they became aware of some of the crises and wanted to discuss them in more depth. Today they are aware of the crises and their extent and now they are interested in our solutions,” concludes Van Zyl.

Roets and Van Zyl leave for New York on 17 July for the official American launch of the Afrikaner Foundation. Further meetings and appointments with established and prospective friends of Afrikaners will also be undertaken here.

The Afrikaner Foundation is a new institution in the Solidarity Movement that aims to mobilise practical support for the work of the institutions of this movement from abroad.