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

Court case against Bellville magistrate postponed until next year

ByAfriForum 26/11/202001/09/2021

AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit currently supports Verna Cloete, the plaintiff in the criminal case against Gerald Hattingh, a magistrate in the Bellville area. The case was postponed on 25 November 2020 to 10 and 11 February 2021 in the Bellville Magistrate’s Court after Cloete already testified – Cloete will also be cross-examined by Hattingh (who is representing himself) during this court appearance. The court had to adjourn early due to the fact that there was no water supply.

The case was already postponed in October since the previous presiding officer recused himself because he evidently knew the accused well. The magistrate acted correctly by recusing himself, but the situation could have been foreseen and should thus have been avoided. The case currently serves before magistrate Cassim.

In 2019 AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit became involved on behalf of Cloete after the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) initially refused to prosecute. The NPA did an about-turn after the unit got involved and decided to indeed prosecute Hattingh on a complaint of reckless and negligent driving. The incident took place in 2011 when Hattingh’s vehicle struck Cloete and injured her to such a degree that she cannot follow her career as heavy vehicle driver.

According to Adv. Phyllis Vorster, Prosecutor at AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit, the unit was established to particularly address selective prosecutions. “We welcome the fact that this case now finally serves before the court and that the plaintiff had the opportunity to present her case. It is however a pity that the case had to be postponed again, considering that the plaintiff has been waiting for justice for almost a decade.”