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

AfriForum submits Paia application against eThekwini Metro

ByAfriForum 07/10/202207/10/2022

AfriForum brought an application against the eThekwini Metro in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (Paia) on 7 October. AfriForum demands a report on the damage caused by the floods, a timetable for repairing said damage and a report on the disaster fund for the April 2022 floods. This follows a series of requests sent to the metro to no avail.

“Durban and the surrounding communities experienced floods, which caused serious damage. It is unacceptable that essential infrastructure isn’t repaired immediately. Raw sewage flows into rivers and eventually into the sea, and as a result, beaches must be closed,” says Eugene van Aswegen, Provincial Coordinator for KwaZulu-Natal.

AfriForum recently also filed criminal charges against the eThekwini Metro for sewage pollution. At the same time, AfriForum filed complaints with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC). Manholes that overflow and are reported do not receive attention.

“At Winkelspruit, a sewage manhole has been overflowing for some time, and the sewage even flows into apartments,” says Jannie van Staden, Chairperson of the Amanzimtoti branch.

“I receive complaints daily from our members in the Queensburgh and Pinetown area of sewage polluting rivers. It’s incomprehensible that this problem doesn’t receive the attention it deserves,” says Reinette Mostert, Chairperson of the Durban West branch.

“According to the eThekwini Metro’s annual financial report of 2020/21, the metro’s property tax contribution to the metro’s budget is R 9,2 billion. Thus, there can be no excuse for not doing the repairs. According to our Constitution, everyone has the right to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being and the protection of the environment,” concludes Van Aswegen.

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