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.

Community Affairs Media statements | Media statements

Abaqulusi Municipality “surprises” with increased tariffs; AfriForum asks ministers and NERSA to intervene

ByAfriForum 12/09/202512/09/2025

AfriForum is calling on the Ministers of Finance and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), as well as their counterparts in KwaZulu-Natal, to investigate the unexpected tariff increases in the Abaqulusi Local Municipality in Vryheid. This follows after drastically increased tariffs for electricity, additional basic sewerage and the use of a borehole appeared on residents’ municipal bills over the past two months. The organisation has also asked the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) to intervene.

On 10 September, AfriForum lodged a formal complaint with, among others, Enoch Godongwana, Minister of Finance, Velenkosini Hlabisa, Minister of Cogta, and NERSA, regarding the increased tariffs for the 2025/2026 financial year.

Protests also erupted in eMondlo on Wednesday 10 September where municipal buildings and machinery were set on fire. The residents complain that the Municipality is implementing tariffs without official consultations with the community. Although AfriForum does not approve of this type of behaviour, the organisation demands urgent answers regarding the tariff increases.

“We have written several letters to the Abaqulusi Municipality but are not receiving satisfactory answers. Some residents’ electricity bills have doubled. No proper public participation process has taken place,” says André van der Walt, chairperson of AfriForum’s Vryheid branch.

In the written complaint, AfriForum requests, among other things, that an investigation be conducted into the legality of these tariff increases; confirmation whether the unacceptably high tariffs were approved by NERSA; written confirmation that the Municipality has complied with all statutory requirements for public participation and council approval; that the increases be suspended or reversed pending proper review; and assistance in ensuring that all outstanding consumer disputes are resolved in a fair and legal manner.

The Municipality has 14 days to respond to AfriForum’s complaint.