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 and the Bakgatla Ba Kgafela conclude historic agreement

This media statement is also available in: Setswana

Soundbite: Kallie Kriel (English)

Soundbite: Kallie Kriel (Afrikaans)

Soundbite: Kgosikgolo Kgafele Kgafela II (English)

Soundbite: Kgosikgolo Kgafela Kgafela II (Setswana)

Soundbite: Barend Uys (English)

Soundbite: Barend Uys (Afrikaans)

AfriForum and Kgosikgolo Kgafela Kgafela II of the Bakgatla Ba Kgafela cultural community signed a historic recognition and cooperation treaty in Cape Town today. They also announced that they would be collaborating on the strengthening of cultural autonomy, community self-sufficiency, agricultural development and the preservation and strengthening of cultural identity.

“The signing of this recognition and cooperation treaty between our respective cultural communities is very significant, especially considering our history of conflict and tension. This historic moment has been dreaded by the haters of the Bakgatla Ba Kgafela and the Afrikaners for a long time. This is a truly historic moment that renders the haters irrelevant in our lives moving forward. The haters today stand isolated as the world observed a beautiful chapter of love open up in front of their eyes,” says Kgosikgolo Kgafela Kgafela II, Kgosikgolo of the Bakgatla Ba Kgafela in Botswana and South Africa.

“South Africa as a centralised dispensation is failing cultural communities in many ways – AfriForum believes that the only solution lies in community federalism. That is why we are building a network of cultural communities, based on mutual recognition and respect, that cooperates to ensure a free, safe and prosperous future for the children of our cultural communities. It is a privilege for us to conclude this historic treaty with Kgosikgolo Kgafela and the Bakgatla Ba Kgafela cultural community, and we are looking forward to collaborating on matters of specific and mutual interest for our cultural communities,” says Kallie Kriel, CEO of AfriForum.

The aim of the agreement is to establish and maintain a lasting relationship with a view to ensuring everlasting peace and friendship between the Bakgatla Ba Kgafela and Afrikaners and to promote their development through, among other things, the following:

promotion of community self-sufficiency and self-management;
preservation and safeguarding of cultural identity and heritage;
protection of property rights;
promotion of community safety;
promotion of mother language education;
cooperation in food security and agricultural development;
promotion of intercultural reconciliation and dialogue;

The following principles form the basis of the agreement:

mutual recognition and respect;
peaceful co-existence;
acceptance of each other’s identity, permanency and existence as autonomous cultural communities in Southern Africa;
the prerogative of cultural communities to govern their own affairs and establish and maintain their own institutions without interference from the state or any other entity;
respect for the diversity of governing institutions, customs and practices, including those relating to land use and landownership; and
freedom of religion and religious and cultural practices.

According to Barend Uys, Head of Intercultural Relations and Cooperation at AfriForum, it is a privilege to be a party to the signing of a mutual recognition and collaboration treaty that carries so much cultural and historical significance. “AfriForum is honoured to have the Bakgatla Ba Kgafela as allies and partners on this hard but honourable mission of being the spiritual pioneers in establishing a reality where future generations can truly live life to the fullest in justice and peacefully co-exist at the southern tip of our beloved Africa,” says Uys.

“We honour the sacrifices and perseverance of our ancestors. We honour them for their actions, which have ensured that we still exist as cultural communities today. We, the current generation and their proud descendants, are inspired by their agency and courage and we take up the responsibility to shape the future we want for those that will again follow us. The signing of this treaty strengthens the new order, based on cultural autonomy, that we want to see taking shape in southern Africa,” concludes Kgosikgolo Kgafela.

AfriForum previously concluded similar agreements with the Jamangile KaMabandla Royal Family of Tsolo in the Eastern Cape; the Barolong Boo Seleka of Thaba’ Nchu in the Free State; the Batlharo Boo Tokwana Ba Ga Masibi of Disaneng in Northwest; the Ndebele organisation Vulamehlo Kusile Organisation (VUKO); and the Royal Leaders of South Africa (ROLESA). These agreements have resulted in various grassroots projects, including projects focusing on agricultural development, heritage, cultural identity and indigenous languages.