Sunfield Home case: AfriForum issues an application against the Department of Social Development at Mpumalanga’s High Court

The civil rights organisation AfriForum filed court documents against the Mpumalanga Department of Social Development today after the department continues to refuse to pay the social subsidy, payable to Sunfield Home for the disabled.

AfriForum became involved in the case after the state refused to increase the subsidy amount for Sunfield Home, a home for physically and mentally disabled persons, for the past 14 years. The department threatened to displace the state-subsidised residents.

AfriForum’s lawyer’s letter in August demanded that the department, in the first place, reconsider and review its decision to force residents to move and, in the second place, that the subsidy amount of the home be adjusted accordingly to an acceptable amount.

“When the government threatens the defenceless in society and treats those who want to help unfairly, AfriForum will stand boldly in the government’s way,” says Ernst van Zyl, Campaign Officer for Strategy and Content at AfriForum.

“AfriForum’s legal action today has guaranteed that the Sunfield Home case will soon receive the full attention of the Department of Social Development,” concludes Van Zyl.