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.

Oppiefees attendees safe under Benoni branch’s watchful eye

The largest Afrikaans music festival in the East Rand went off without incident this past weekend (10 and 11 May), partly because the festivalgoers were protected by AfriForum’s Benoni neighbourhood watch. The neighbourhood watch carried out patrols in collaboration with other role players and maintained strict access control at Oppifees’ parking area. This while thousands of festivalgoers watched the performances of some of the most prominent Afrikaans performers.

The branch also took the opportunity to deploy its new mobile license plate recognition cameras. These cameras scanned the license plates of every vehicle that entered the festival grounds in order to identify vehicles that were either stolen or used in crimes. The cameras are connected to the South African Police Service’s (SAPS) database and helped the neighbourhood watch ensure that no suspicious vehicles gained access to the festival grounds without the knowledge of AfriForum’s Benoni branch.

However, during the festival, criminals slipped into the site unseen and tried to steal a festivalgoer’s vehicle. The Benoni branch’s motorcycle unit reacted quickly and foiled these attempts. The suspects fled the scene, but the owner of the vehicle and the SAPS were informed about the incident shortly afterwards.

Jurie Ferreira, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for the East Rand, says the Benoni branch is proud to serve this community and promote safety in Benoni and the rest of the East Rand. The use of technology, such as the number plate recognition cameras, is one of the many ways that this neighbourhood watch fights crime.

“We are delighted to use these new mobile number plate recognition cameras, the Benoni branch’s existing network of cameras and the control room to protect the residents of Benoni. This sends a strong message to criminals and has already helped to deter criminal activity,” concludes Ferreira.

The Benoni branch calls on the community and businesses in the area to get involved and become part of the branch’s crime-fighting efforts. Visit www.wordlid.co.za for more information.