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 warns against unfair electricity tariff increases in JB Marks Municipality

AfriForum calls on the JB Marks Local Municipality to first implement proper debt collection and combat illegal connections before implementing the proposed electricity tariff increases for the 2026/27 financial year. The organisation warns that the proposed increases raise serious legal, financial and management issues.

According to AfriForum, the proposed tariff structure is not in line with legal requirements for fairness, transparency and efficient use of resources as contained in the Constitution, the Municipal Finance Management Act 56 of 2003 and the Municipal Systems Act 32 of 2000.

“The municipality is trying to shift the financial burden of poor management, insufficient revenue collection and possible corruption onto law-abiding residents and businesses,” says Alta Pretorius, AfriForum’s district coordinator for the Mooi River.

The proposed increases include, among others, increases in fixed monthly charges; high peak-time tariffs; and increases in residential and business tariffs per kWh.

AfriForum emphasises that these increases are further exacerbated by the fact that consumers now have to pay more regardless of their actual electricity consumption.

In their letter to the municipality, the organisation also expressed concern about municipal officials’ alleged involvement in illegal connections.

“It is unacceptable that paying residents have to pay for losses due to illegal connections and poor financial management,” Pretorius adds.

AfriForum further argues that the principle of tariffs that reflect costs cannot be used to impose the consequences of mismanagement, non-payment and corruption on consumers.

AfriForum also requests complete transparency from the municipality regarding costs and losses regarding electricity supply as well as that the tariff increases be reconsidered until management issues are clarified.

According to Douglas Bourn, chairperson of AfriForum’s Potchefstroom branch, the municipality cannot expect communities to subsidize continued mismanagement and alleged corruption through these tariff increases.

Get involved with AfriForum’s Potchefstroom branch and neighbourhood watch today and help make a real difference in your area. Contact Douglas Bourn at 083 232 1020 to join the branch and Cornelia Blignaut at 073 390 4133 to join the neighbourhood watch.