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 makes history with first neighbourhood watch in Knysna

AfriForum’s Knysna branch made history on 21 June by establishing the organisation’s first neighbourhood watch in Knysna. What makes this neighbourhood watch even more remarkable is that it consists of 10 sectors due to Knysna’s unique geographical location and will serve the area between Sedgefield and Plettenberg Bay.

The management of the new neighbourhood watch is Piet Barnard (leader), Nigel Dowsett (operational team leader), Mornay Bouwer and Louise Lombaard (two information team leaders) and Piet Barnard (support team leader).

The 10 sectors of this newly established AfriForum neighbourhood watch are Smutsville, Karatara, Rheenendal, Buffelsbaai/Brentons and Belvidere, Knysna CBD, Knysna Sector 3, Knysna Old Farms and industrial area, Rexford/Hunters Home/Fisherhaven, Gouna and Plettenberg Bay. Two of the sectors – Smutsville and Knysna Sector 3 – were established in collaboration with Cape Forum.

“It is time for us to take safety into our own hands. Safety cannot be achieved in isolation – it must be a shared network of communities that stand together. When one area is burdened by crime, the consequences spill over to others. That is why communities must now join hands, share resources and build a united front. Only then can we truly stop the flow of crime and bring about lasting change,” says Heindrich Wyngaard, Chairperson of Cape Forum.

During the founding meeting, Marthinus Erasmus, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for the Southern Cape, and David Olivier, AfriForum’s head of Safety in the southern region, explained how AfriForum’s neighbourhood watches act within the framework of the Constitution to protect their communities.

The following facts were highlighted during the presentation:

• AfriForum is a civil rights organisation – not a political party.

• AfriForum protects the constitutional rights of all citizens.

• Any person who supports AfriForum’s work can join AfriForum.

• AfriForum neighbourhood watch members sign a code of conduct that commits them to always acting within the framework of the law.

• AfriForum’s specialised training enables neighbourhood watch members to provide the necessary support to statutory role players – not to take over their work.

• AfriForum is an organisation with more than 317 000 members nationwide, who actively collaborate with all possible role players to make communities free, safe and prosperous. AfriForum already has cooperation agreements with municipalities, statutory institutions and various other institutions and would like to expand this network even further.

“After a two-year process, AfriForum’s Knysna neighbourhood watch has finally been established. We are excited to make a positive contribution to community safety in Knysna. I thank the members of the Knysna neighbourhood watch for their willingness to take ownership of their safety and create a better future for their children,” concludes Erasmus.

Join your nearest neighbourhood watch today and help secure your children’s future. Send an email to marthinus.erasmus@afriforum.co.za or call Erasmus on 081 216 9602.