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 continues repairs at dangerous Sedgefield intersection

AfriForum’s Knysna branch carried out further repairs to the dangerous intersection of Volstruis Road and Quail Street in Sedgefield on 16 August. This time, another six tons of tar were used to fill the giant potholes. Volunteers from the Knysna branch, Cape Island Construction and B&V Contractors removed the loose gravel that the Knysna Local Municipality had previously dumped into the holes in a half-hearted attempt to fill the holes. The holes were then sealed with a binder, filled with tar and then compacted. There is one more large hole in the intersection that needs to be repaired.

Instead of supporting community initiatives like such, the Municipality accused AfriForum of illegal actions after the previous repairs at the intersection on 2 August – when this project was initiated. However, AfriForum considers this attack unfair because the Municipality fails to act against real illegalities, such as the illegal land occupations in Karatara and Sedgefield, stray animals (mainly cattle and goats) that pose a danger to motorists and the ongoing sewage pollution of the Knysna and Sedgefield lakes. These life-threatening issues are simply allowed to continue, but positive actions that contribute to the safety of the community are labelled as illegal. While AfriForum has already tabled solutions and proposals in these cases, the Municipality sits back and makes unfounded accusations.

“It is very clear that there is an unwillingness from the Municipality to acknowledge that they cannot tackle the problems in Knysna alone,” says Marthinus Erasmus, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for the Southern Cape. “AfriForum brings solutions – we do not just complain, but the Municipality would rather point fingers. The Municipality should put their pride in their pockets and admit that they are not able to solve the problems in Sedgefield themselves and need the community’s help.”

AfriForum’s activities do not deprive the Municipality of their responsibility but rather emphasise that communities even in the Western Cape must wake up and realise that they can no longer depend solely on government, whether nationally or locally.

“We fight against failed structures by pointing out dysfunction and holding authorities to account, but at the same time we build workable alternatives,” says Erasmus.

The Knysna branch will continue to offer sustainable solutions to local problems. Every action is a message: Communities can and will rise when official structures fail. Help AfriForum’s Knysna branch complete the repairs at the intersection by joining: Click here or contact Erasmus at 081 216 9602 or marthinus.erasmus@afriforum.co.za for more information.