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

AfriForum helps home for the disabled with emergency generator

ByAfriForum 05/06/202505/06/2025

The AfriForum branch in Amanzimtoti provided the Jona Vaughan Home for the disabled with a temporary emergency generator on Wednesday 4 June. The eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality cut off the home’s power the previous day (Tuesday 3 June) because Durban Coastal Mental Health doesn’t have the funds to pay the outstanding electricity bill of more than R4 million.

The Jona Vaughan Home is a non-profit organisation that provides a home for more than 60 children and adults with intellectual and physical disabilities. The home is administered by Durban and Coastal Mental Health, which is funded by the Department of Health, the Department of Social Development and Sassa grants.

With the provision of the emergency generator to the home, AfriForum wanted to prevent another Life Esidimeni tragedy, where at least 140 patients from the state’s mental health facilities died due to neglect between June 2016 and October 2017.

“We could not watch as people who depend on others – especially on the state – must get along without power. We provided the home with an emergency generator so that at least there would be hot water for the patients,” says Tim Young, Leader of AfriForum’s Amanzimtoti neighbourhood watch.

“We see daily how the state does not meet its obligations and this action borders on the violation of human rights. We are considering lodging further complaints with the Public Protector and the South African Human Rights Commission,” says Eugene van Aswegen, AfriForum’s Provincial Coordinator for KwaZulu-Natal.

AfriForum thanks Rapid Tools for making the generator available.

Visit www.wordlid.co.za to become part of your nearest AfriForum branch and thus make a real difference in your community.