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.

Cooperation agreement beckons between AfriForum and Emfuleni Local Municipality

A memorandum of understanding that will ensure cooperation and mutual support in tackling diverse projects between the civil rights organisation AfriForum and the Emfuleni Local Municipality was envisioned during a successful meeting yesterday. AfriForum views this development and the municipality’s optimism about the intended cooperation as a critical victory in the interests of the residents of this local municipality in southern Gauteng.

AfriForum has already concluded several similar cooperation agreements with municipalities elsewhere in the country and maintains that this approach – in which communities themselves take responsibility for certain projects and municipal services – plays an important role in the realisation of community federalism.

During yesterday’s meeting, AfriForum and representatives of the municipality, including the Emfuleni Municipality’s Acting Executive Mayor, Tumi Mochawe, discussed aspects that require urgent attention.

According to Butch Blignaut, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for the West Rand and Vaal Triangle, issues such as refuse removal, the lack of accessible landfill sites, road infrastructure, sewage and water leaks are some of the matters that AfriForum has brought to the table. Once cooperation has been formalised, AfriForum intends to focus on the maintenance of water and sewage lines and roads in particular and to handle the repair of water and sewage leaks as well as potholes itself. In addition, plans are already underway to establish a recycling station to help tackle the serious challenges regarding landfill sites in this municipality.

The municipality has also already welcomed the possibility of formal cooperation with AfriForum on social media. According to a social media post made about the meeting on the mayor’s Facebook page yesterday, the municipality views the discussions held so far as a “positive move towards progress”.

“We look forward to the work that lies ahead and to taking forward what we are already doing in the area as part of a formal agreement with the municipality in the interest of the community. The agreement will open communication lines between the community and the municipality and, above all, result in improved service delivery,” concludes Blignaut.

AfriForum and the municipality will meet again on 1 September to discuss the way forward.