AfriForum neighbourhood watches hits hard at crime in communities

AfriForum’s second countrywide mass patrol for 2025 once again achieved several successes across South Africa this past weekend. The organisation’s 177 neighbourhood and farm watches patrolled their respective areas from Friday evening (20 June) until early Saturday morning to ensure common safety. During this patrol, AfriForum played an important role in, among other things, recovering stolen vehicles and stolen cattle, assisting with a number of arrests and defusing an incident of domestic violence. Furthermore, AfriForum also assisted during a roadblock and with the fighting of fires on the East Rand.

In Vryburg, North West, the AfriForum neighbourhood watch practiced a simulated stolen vehicle incident during the early stages of the patrol. Later that evening, the simulation became reality when a stolen vehicle, which had earlier been reported on WhatsApp groups, was identified at a local Shell filling station. AfriForum’s Vryburg proto team, in collaboration with other security role players, intercepted the vehicle, which had been stolen in Orkney and was possibly involved in a crime. The South African Police Service (SAPS) responded quickly and the vehicle was confiscated and taken to the Vryburg police station for further investigation.

In Moreletapark in Pretoria, AfriForum members worked with local private security to apprehend a suspect who had broken into business premises. The SAPS took the suspect into custody on site.

In Alberton on the East Rand, a large-scale roadblock, together with law enforcement, led to multiple interventions. Two individuals were arrested for drunk driving, a domestic violence incident was successfully resolved and two fires were extinguished by the branch’s firefighting team. Over 150 vehicles were also pulled over and inspected to ensure their licenses were up to date.

In Musina in Limpopo, a farm attack simulation was conducted as a training exercise to assess the readiness and coordination of local safety units.

In Delmas, Mpumalanga, AfriForum partnered with the SAPS’s Bethal Stock Theft Unit to train members of the Delmas neighbourhood watch on the prevention of livestock theft. During operations at two livestock auctions, nine suspected stolen cows were identified. This discovery helped uncover a wider stock theft operation involving 45 stolen cattle. An additional 20 cattle, suspected of being previously stolen, were also found at a separate location near Hendrina. A suspect was arrested and led authorities to the loading site where a vehicle and two trailers used in the crime were located. Two other suspects remain at large.

In the West Rand, coordinated efforts between AfriForum and local law enforcement yielded several results. Nine illegal immigrants were arrested and a R5 000 fine was issued for the illegal sale of liquor. Additionally, six individuals were arrested for drunk driving. Authorities also confiscated an illegal firearm, two magazines and 12 rounds of ammunition, and also seized 15 crates of illicit liquor.

“The active participation of our volunteers in this mass initiative once again proves how essential organised community safety is in a country where crime continues to spiral out of control. AfriForum is proud of every patroller who sacrifices their time and skills to protect their communities. Real safety begins with the community itself,” says Jacques Broodryk, AfriForum’s Chief Spokesperson for Community Safety.

AfriForum invites the public to get involved by joining their nearest neighbourhood watch structure. Visit www.afriforumbuurtwag.co.za to join today.