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 immediate action on sewage pollution in Upington

ByAfriForum 20/05/202620/05/2026

AfriForum calls on the Dawid Kruiper Local Municipality to take urgent action to address the ongoing release of raw sewage in Die Rand residential area. This sewage flows from the area near the Kalahari Shopping Centre to Die Rand residential area and from there the untreated sewage flows into the Orange River.

This sewage has been flowing through the residential area below Hoërskool Duineveld and Laerskool Oranje-Noord for some time. According to AfriForum, it poses serious health and environmental risks to residents, pupils and the wider community.

“The stench is unbearable and residents complain that the smell permeates the school classrooms and makes it difficult for learners to focus. It is unacceptable that residents have to live in such conditions while the problem is simply allowed to continue without any efforts to come up with a solution,” says Werner Strauss, AfriForum’s district coordinator for the Kalahari.

Strauss adds that sewage contains bacteria, viruses and chemicals that can cause diseases such as cholera, hepatitis and other waterborne infections. Furthermore, the pollution of the Orange River is not only a local problem, but also poses a threat to agriculture, biodiversity and water quality in this region.

Section 24 of the Constitution states that every person has the right to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being. In addition, the National Water Act 36 of 1998 requires that pollution be prevented, controlled and remedied. This is not currently the case in Upington and the municipality could therefore be guilty of contravening these laws.

According to AfriForum, the water has already been tested several times at PathCare and council members as well as municipal officials were aware of the problem and were even present when the water samples were taken. The organization is of the opinion that insufficient steps have been taken to find a permanent solution to this problem.

AfriForum members in the area have also already laid criminal charges with the local South African Police Service (SAPS), but so far there has been no visible progress with the investigation.

In their letter, AfriForum gave the Dawid Kruiper Municipality seven working days to provide written feedback on the steps that will be taken to permanently resolve the problem. Further steps will be considered if the municipality fails to provide feedback.