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.

Springs branch makes gruesome find

AfriForum’s Springs branch and community came across a gruesome find on 9 June. Animal carcasses were illegally dumped in a field near Daggafontein. After further investigation, documents were found indicating that these carcasses came from Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) in Springs.

The Springs SPCA was contacted, and they confirmed that the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality’s waste disposal services had recently come to remove carcasses and other veterinary waste, which poses a health risk.

Springs SPCA sent their team to visit the site and was able to confirm that it was indeed the waste they handed over to the municipality’s waste disposal services. Two additional points have been identified in the nearby area where similar waste has been found. After the visit, the Springs SPCA contacted the municipality. However, the municipality denies any involvement in the events and said that they would only be able to remove the waste the following week.

The team from the Springs SPCA decided out of respect for the animals to remove the animals’ carcasses themselves and take them back to their premises.

AfriForum’s Springs branch sent a letter in this regard to the municipal manager Dr Imogen Mashazi, to investigate the matter. The branch demands further feedback from the municipality after the investigation to determine what measures and steps will be implemented to ensure that this situation is rectified.

“It is unacceptable that the municipality’s waste disposal services could allow something like this to happen. We are constantly busy bringing illegal dumping to the attention of the municipality, but nothing comes of it. Many of these incidents take place in the Brakpan area and it appears that it is employees and contractors of the municipality who are responsible for this,” says Jurie Ferreira, District Coordinator for the East Rand.

“The municipality has a responsibility to uphold the Constitution by protecting our rights and providing basic services, for which we pay. We insist that the municipality provide us with a workable and sustainable plan in which they outline how they plan to handle the situation and how it will be prevented in the future,” concludes Ferreira.

The Springs branch’s legal team will consider further legal action if the municipality does not fulfil its legal obligations.

To get involved, or to join this branch, visit www.wordlid.co.za and be part of the solution.