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 demands answers about Potchefstroom power outages

Soundbite: Alta Pretorius (English)

Soundbite: Alta Pretorius (Afrikaans)

In an urgent letter, AfriForum demands answers from the JB Marks Local Municipality and Eskom about the latest wave of power outages and load shedding in Potchefstroom. According to the municipality, load curtailment is being applied due to “severe overheating”, which is resulting in repeated tripping of the transformer at the Potch DS Substation.

In the letter that AfriForum sent to the municipality yesterday (11 May), the civil rights organisation demands, among other things, clarity regarding the following:

why preventive maintenance was not done on time;
when the problem was first identified;
how long the current power outages will continue;
what measures will be implemented to adhere to schedules; and
who is liable for the current problems being experienced, Eskom or the Municipality?

According to a public notice issued by the municipality on Friday, load curtailment is currently being applied on a rotational basis to prevent further damage to the infrastructure. The implementation of this drastic step also follows, according to the notice, as “Eskom is currently supplying electricity to the Greater Potchefstroom using one transformer instead of two”.

AfriForum argues that this situation is a direct result of a lack of timely maintenance and planning.

“It is unacceptable that critical electricity infrastructure has deteriorated to this point. Residents have been experiencing problems with this transformer for some time, and yet no timely action has been taken,” says Alta Pretorius, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for the Mooi River.

Municipalities are obliged in terms of Section 152(1)(b) of the Constitution to deliver services in a sustainable manner, while the Municipal Systems Act 32 of 2000 stipulates that services provided must be reliable and of high quality. AfriForum stresses that in light of the current situation, the Municipality does not comply with these requirements.

The Municipality has published a load shedding schedule, but the application of load shedding is – to the great frustration of residents – not being applied accordingly. This haphazard application of load shedding makes it impossible for households and businesses to plan and therefore leads to economic damage.

“Residents who pay for electricity faithfully are currently exposed to unpredictable and prolonged power outages. The lack of adherence to schedules is exacerbating the situation and indicates poor management and coordination,” says Douglas Bourn, Chairperson of AfriForum’s Potchefstroom branch.

AfriForum has requested that the authorities respond in writing to the organisation’s questions regarding the current power situation within five working days. AfriForum is considering further steps if the Municipality refuses to respond or fails to urgently address the power problems in Potchefstroom.

You can also make a difference

Get involved with AfriForum’s Potchefstroom branch and neighbourhood watch today and thereby make a tangible difference in your community. Contact Bourn at 083 232 1020 to join the branch and Cornelia Blignaut at 073 390 4133 to join the neighbourhood watch.