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 opposes Mangaung Metro’s new refuse disposal and sewerage tariffs

Soundbite: Jaco Grobbelaar (English)

AfriForum has lodged an application for judicial review with the Bloemfontein High Court against the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality’s new refuse removal and sewage tariff structures. The application aims to have the new tariffs set aside, as AfriForum holds the view that the manner in which the tariffs are calculated and levied is unconstitutional and fails to comply with applicable legal requirements.

The new tariffs comprise a refuse removal tariff calculated based on the size of the erf, and a sewerage tariff calculated based on the value of the property.

According to AfriForum, this approach to tariff determination is inconsistent with the Constitution, the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act 32 of 2000, the Local Government: Municipal Property Rates Act 6 of 2004, the Municipal Fiscal Powers and Functions Act 12 of 2007, and the Mangaung Waste Management and Tariff Policy By-law.

AfriForum demands that the Mangaung Metro stop charging the disputed rates immediately and find a legal, fair and transparent method to charge residents for these services. The organisation is of the opinion that residents should not be subjected to tariff structures that are not properly based on legal principles, the nature of the service or the cost of service delivery.

AfriForum’s concern about the new rates is further strengthened by the Metro’s ongoing inability to deliver sustainable and efficient waste removal services to residents.

“It is unacceptable that the Mangaung Metro cannot even manage to deliver basic services like refuse removal sustainably, yet simultaneously seeks to impose new and increased financial burdens on residents. AfriForum and numerous private contractors are already carrying out refuse removal services because the Metro fails to fulfil its responsibilities. Residents are tired of paying for services they do not receive,” says Jaco Grobbelaar, AfriForum’s regional head for the central region.

“The question is increasingly arising as to whether these fares are really being used to improve services or whether they are simply another way to collect money that ends up being spent on everything but basic service delivery. The Metro must stop using residents’ wallets as its personal piggy bank to finance its own management and service delivery failures.”

AfriForum emphasises that municipal rates should not simply be regarded as an unlimited source of income. Rates must be charged within the framework of the Constitution and applicable legislation, while residents’ right to accountable and efficient municipal service delivery must be respected.

The organisation will continue the court process and hold the Mangaung Metro accountable over the legality of the disputed fares. AfriForum will not allow residents to be forced to pay increasingly more for services that the municipality does not provide properly.