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 calls for investigation into SANParks amid R1 billion tender scandal

Soundbite: Marais de Vaal (English)

Klankgreep: Marais de Vaal (Afrikaans)

AfriForum has called upon the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) to launch an extensive investigation into the procurement processes of South African National Parks, better known as SANParks, after irregularities in the awarding of tenders recently came to light. The civil rights organisation requested that those responsible for the deterioration and corruption at SANParks be brought to book so that the conservation authority can renew its focus on preserving the biodiversity and cultural heritage of its national parks.

The High Court in Pretoria recently scrapped a R1 billion IT contract awarded by SANParks, calling it unlawful and riddled with irregularities. The case (041563/2024) revealed that SANParks awarded this massive contract to a certain company – headed by a businessman, who is seemingly well-connected politically and has been under investigation for apparent fraudulent activity in the past – despite the company failing to meet mandatory tender requirements. Shockingly, four other bidders were disqualified for the very same shortcomings.

“This is not a technical error – it is a flagrant betrayal of public trust,” says Marais de Vaal, Advisor on Environmental Affairs at AfriForum. “While park roads deteriorate, poachers threaten endangered species and substandard facilities are tolerated in parks, SANParks and other officials signed off on a billion rand deal in complete disregard of procurement laws. That money could have been used for rangers, conservation, or infrastructure — not wasted on a legally indefensible contract.”

De Vaal says this recent tender scandal begs the question if there are more dubious and illegal dealings that SANParks and other officials are embroiled in. AfriForum has therefore sent formal letters to SANParks and the DFFE demanding full accountability, urging them to report to Parliament on the matter and to suspend or sanction the officials involved in the latest, and possible other unlawful tenders.

“We will not stand by while our natural heritage crumbles due to mismanagement and corruption,” says De Vaal. “South Africans deserve better stewardship of our national parks, and that starts with acting against those who seek to profit from unlawful dealings. One bad apple spoils the whole bunch.”

AfriForum is calling on the public to support its campaign and demand clean governance and action from those entrusted with the protection of our parks.