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.

Landfill audit: Western Cape

ByAfriForum 16/08/202316/08/2023

The civil rights organisation AfriForum audited 161 landfills nationwide this year as part of their national project to determine the condition of landfills in South Africa.

Only 14 out of 25 landfills audited in the Western Cape met the national standards. In terms of applicable legislation and regulations, including the National Environmental Management: Waste Act 59 of 2008, all landfills must meet specific requirements.

This is how the landfills in the Western Cape compare:

According to Jacques Benade, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for the Boland, most landfills in the Western Cape are in an acceptable condition. “This can mainly be attributed to proactive local government. However, AfriForum is still not satisfied with the overall results and will continuously pressurise the relevant parties to ensure that all landfills are up to standard.”

“The most common problem that AfriForum branches in the Western Cape noticed during the audit is security and access control. It is a major concern as the municipal officials of Breede Valley Local Municipality are not held accountable. There is barely any control and oversight at the landfill. The people there are not equipped to fulfil their duties,” said Benade.

Municipal deterioration is prevalent, and smaller municipalities suffer from large-scale mismanagement.

The situation can be attributed to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE) being controlled by three different spheres of government. The national department only has the power to establish laws, policies, norms, and standards at a national level, but they have no power at a provincial or municipal level. The province reports to the provincial MEC, not to the minister. And the lack of communication between Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) and the DFFE causes another challenge.

Click here to read the full report.

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