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 encourages schools in Tshwane Metro to report power cuts and claim damages

Soundbite: Alana Bailey (English)

Soundbite: Alana Bailey (Afrikaans)

Court order regarding power supply to schools in Tshwane Metro area Download

The urgent court application with which AfriForum and Laerskool Wierdapark succeeded in the Pretoria High Court on Tuesday (5 May 2026) stipulates that the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality immediately has to restore the power supply to all schools whose power had been cut due to non-payment of property rates. In addition, it stipulates that no other schools may have their power cut for this reason and that schools that have been affected by this may claim damages from the Tshwane Metro.

The case was filed after several schools in the metropolitan area were literally left in the dark, despite their electricity bills being paid in full. However, their property taxes, which are the responsibility of the provincial authorities, are in arrears. The Tshwane Metro was therefore punishing the innocent parties, namely schools and vulnerable learners, for maladministration in which they had no part.

According to Alana Bailey, AfriForum’s Head of Cultural Affairs, it is commendable that school governing bodies are courageous enough to address unpleasant situations like this with legal action. Thanks to one governing body’s forceful action, this court order ensures the protection of all schools in the metropolitan area.

“AfriForum therefore encourages the governing bodies of all other schools whose power is still cut off due to the property tax issue to contact us urgently. We know of at least one school that is still without electricity and therefore now urge the Tshwane Metro to restore it without delay, or face a charge of contempt of court,” she says.

AfriForum also encourages all schools that have suffered damages due to this issue to quantify the costs and submit claims to the metro accordingly. This includes the cost of diesel for generators. In addition, the governing bodies are requested to keep AfriForum informed of the progress in this regard. “We want to ensure that the innocent victims of this dispute between the province and the metro are properly compensated for their losses. If any aspect of the court order is disregarded, AfriForum is ready to assist the schools again,” Bailey concludes.