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.

Language Media statements | Media statements

Media24’s confirmation that Afrikaans newspapers may be scrapped is a huge setback – AfriForum

ByAfriForum 18/06/202418/06/2024

News that today confirmed that Media24 is considering closing five newspapers at the end of September this year and possibly laying off 400 staff, is a huge setback for quality journalism in the country and especially for Afrikaans, AfriForum reiterates.

According to Alana Bailey, AfriForum’s Head of Cultural Affairs, the response to the petitions launched last week by AfriForum for the retention of Beeld and Rapport proves how strongly readers feel about the future of these newspapers. If the closures are implemented, Media24 is abandoning the Afrikaans community and the titles of publications that are part of the foundation on which this business giant has been built. “Furthermore, it is tragic that loyal staff are facing possible layoffs in these difficult economic times,” emphasises Bailey.

“Despite declining sales, print media definitely still has a place, especially in a country like South Africa where data is expensive and technology is not available to everyone. More than that, if these newspapers’ paper editions were to disappear, it would be a serious blow to Afrikaans. The Afrikaans media has a long and proud history that must be treasured and developed, rather than diminished.”

Bailey points out the disadvantages of electronic media: “It can easily be subjected to censorship by authorities, attacks by hackers and abuse by criminals. In contrast, print media is much more long-lasting, risk-resistant and worthy of preservation. Electronic media usually direct readers only to the articles about topics they are looking for, while print media exposes readers to the much larger world of news and thus broadens their thinking and knowledge. The survival of Afrikaans print media is a necessity, not a luxury.”

The public can add their names to AfriForum’s petition for the preservation of the printed versions of Beeld and Rapport and the retention of these titles at www.redrapport.co.za.