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.

AfriForum takes Mangaung Metro to court over refuse removal, exemption applications

Christo Groenewald (English)

AfriForum’s Bloemfontein branch has served court documents on the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality due to the Metro’s continued failure to provide proper refuse removal services to residents, as well as its refusal to consider applications for exemption from this service.

The legal action follows after numerous residents, with AfriForum’s support, applied to cancel their municipal refuse removal service and instead use private service providers. However, the Metro failed to respond to these applications or to deliver administrative justice, which forced AfriForum to take the matter to court in terms of the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act (Act 3 of 2000).

AfriForum has requested the court to act in the interests of residents with regard to their right to decide for themselves the services they pay for – especially in cases where the Municipality does not provide those services. The court documents argue that Mangaung’s mismanagement and ongoing service delivery crisis are forcing residents to seek alternatives, as weeks go by without refuse removal.

According to Christo Groenewald, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for Bloemfontein, the case is about more than just refuse removal. “The civil rights organisation is fighting this battle on behalf of residents whose basic rights are being violated. No one should have to pay for a service that simply does not exist. This court action is a step to restore the principle of accountability and protect the right of choice for taxpayers,” says Groenewald.

To date, more than 650 residents have already submitted applications to cancel their refuse removal from the Metro and join AfriForum’s alternative service. These names and supporting documentation have been included as evidence in the court documents.

While the court process continues, AfriForum continues to provide sustainable refuse removal services to the residents of Bloemfontein. The organisation emphasizes that this is not just a service delivery initiative, but part of a larger effort to build self-reliant and accountable communities.

AfriForum encourages all residents to exercise their rights and join the organisation’s refuse removal initiative, where they can also submit their applications for exemption at www.vullisverwydering.co.za.