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.

Failed “hit” on North West farmer prompts appeal to AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit

Soundbite: Mpho Munyai

Soundbite: Barry Bateman (English)

Soundbite: Barry Bateman (Afrikaans)

Mpho Munyai, a North West farmer, has turned to AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit for assistance six months after a farm attack, which he believes was an attempt on his life, left his son in critical condition with gunshot wounds. The unit has approached senior police in the province to urgently provide an update on the status of the case, and enquire whether the critical information Munyai provided to the investigating officer was acted upon.

In the early morning of 9 January 2025, several gunmen opened fire on Munyai’s farmhouse near Magaliesburg, firing shots through bedroom windows. While Munyai believes he was the target, his young son was shot several times, but Munyai’s quick action to get the boy to the hospital saved his life. Despite significant physical evidence collected at the scene and cell phone data pointing to specific suspects, six months later, the police do not appear to have made a breakthrough.

Adv. Gerrie Nel, head of the unit, has conveyed Munyai’s concerns in a letter to the Phokeng district commissioner. “Understandably, our client is concerned as there has been no success in identifying the actual shooters or the person who ordered what he maintains was a hit. We believe SAPS must share our concern that, having failed to carry out their planned murders successfully, the assassins could be unleashed at any time to finish off our client.”

Munyai, a valued member of the North West farming community and the owner of the Vhanyai Boran stud, explains why he asked for help. “I reached out to AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit to assist me with my case and ensure that it is properly investigated and prosecuted.

“Our current justice system is in tatters, and investigations in cases like this one are compromised in the process. So, I believe that AfriForum possesses the necessary skills and technical knowledge to assist individuals like myself who have lost faith in the current justice system. I believe justice will be served, especially for my son,” he said.

Barry Bateman, spokesperson for the unit, says the police have a duty to protect farmers like Munyai and to thoroughly investigate clear assassination attempts in order to bring the perpetrators to justice. “We share Mpho’s suspicion that this was an attempted assassination. While we are relieved that he and his son survived this attack on his farm, AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit is concerned that the police might not have properly investigated the critical information Mpho provided to the investigating officer. We believe that a thorough investigation will identify not only the gunmen, but the mastermind as well. The unit has asked the police to urgently provide an update on the case to allay Mpho’s worry that he and his children are still in danger,” said Bateman.