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.

Media statements | Neighborhood Watch Media Statements

AfriForum neighbourhood watch escorts school bus out of Pretoria CBD amidst safety concerns

ByAfriForum 14/08/202614/08/2026

AfriForum’s Greater Pretoria East neighbourhood watch escorted a bus carrying approximately 50 pupils from Laerskool Garsfontein from the State Theatre in Pretoria to the school last night after the neighbourhood watch was approached to help ensure the pupils’ safety. The pupils had attended a revue performance at the State Theatre in a part of the city that nowadays poses a significant risk of crime even during the day.

The neighbourhood watch kept watch over the school bus between 21:00 and 22:00 and ensured that the pupils and their teachers reached their destination safely. Several other schools also made use of private security companies to escort their buses out of the area. This type of escort forms part of the role that community safety structures are increasingly playing, particularly in areas where public policing is inadequate to provide people with effective protection.

On 5 August, AfriForum’s Noord van die Berg neighbourhood watch, in cooperation with GAC Risk Solutions and Maximum Security, performed the same role for four buses carrying pupils from Laerskool Wonderboom and Hoërskool Overkruin.

“Schools should not have to take these kinds of security measures simply to get children home safely from a cultural event. The reality, however, is that communities increasingly have to take action themselves to fulfil a role in which the state is failing,” says Maree van den Berg, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for Pretoria.

“Strong and organised community safety structures have become essential, and the devolution of policing powers will help combat crime more quickly and effectively. In the meantime, communities themselves must build the capacity to act and protect one another.”

AfriForum’s neighbourhood watches already play an active role in making communities in Pretoria safer and will continue to intervene where assistance is needed. Residents are encouraged to join AfriForum’s safety structures. Visit www.wordlid.co.za for more information.