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

PRIVATE PROSECUTION UNIT INTERVENES IN CASE OF POLICE MISFEASANCE AT WIERDABRUG POLICE STATION

ByAfriForum 05/05/202103/09/2021

AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit is currently supporting Anja Pentz, who was allegedly assaulted by officials at the Wierdabrug police station and jailed for hours after she had wanted to report a hijack attempt. The police official charged her for being “drunk in public” and locked her up after she had attempted to take pictures of them refusing to assist her in reporting a crime. The Unit has already made a representation to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), who has already indicated that it would not place the case against Pentz on the roll.

An unknown vehicle attempted to force Pentz off the highway on the night in question. She was alone in her car and convinced that the occupants of the car wanted to hijack her. She therefore drove to the Wierdabrug police station. The unknown vehicle followed her there, but then disappeared.

Six police officials sat in chairs against the wall and made no attempt to help Pentz. They also ignored her pleas for help. After she had taken out her cell phone to take pictures of them, one of the police officials got up and asked her in crude language what she was doing. He grabbed Pentz behind the neck and informed her that she was being arrested for being “drunk in public”. Pentz was kept in the detention cells until 03:45 the next morning. She then received a notice to appear in court on 13 May on this charge – despite not having taken any alcohol on the day in question and the police refusing to test her alcohol levels.

According to Adv. Phyllis Vorster, Prosecutor at the Private Prosecution Unit, the Unit will also support Pentz in the complaint that has already laid against the police officials. The complaint includes assault, theft (money from her wallet) and malicious damage to property (her cell phone). “We are horrified by the police officials’ actions and power abuse. They seemingly fabricated a charge against an innocent woman, detaining her for hours and treating her with disdain. This after she turned to them for help,” Vorster says.