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 prepares for urgent application to restore power supply to schools in Tshwane Metro

Soundbite: Alana Bailey (English)

Soundbite: Alana Bailey (Afrikaans)

AfriForum and at least one school is currently preparing to approach the court with an urgent application to ensure that the electricity supply to some schools in Pretoria and Centurion is restored. This follows after the Tshwane Metropolitans Municipality informed several schools about a week ago that their power would be cut off because their property rates bills are in arrears. Some schools have been without electricity for a week already.

According to Alana Bailey, AfriForum’s Head of Cultural Affairs, the schools’ electricity bills have been paid in full, in fact some have even paid in advance. The bills for services such as power and water supply are the responsibility of the schools’ governing bodies. However, the property rates must be paid by the authorities, which currently does not seem to be happening in the Tshwane Metro. AfriForum won a similar case against this Metro in 2009 and is therefore ready to defend schools’ access to services they pay for once again.

“It is unfair that learners and staff’s rights to quality education, safety and even the provision of their basic needs are being violated due to the authorities’ maladministration. At schools where there is currently no power, education cannot take place as usual. Systems that should protect safety on the premises are out of order. Feeding programmes that should provide hot meals to the most vulnerable children cannot continue, while supplies in refrigerators spoil. Where schools have generators, only the most essential services can be provided and this at an extremely high cost due to the current diesel price. Even this limited supply of electricity is therefore not sustainable,” explains Bailey.

“AfriForum would like to hear from any school in the metropolitan area that is currently affected by this action of the Tshwane Metro. We welcome the fact that one of the schools’ governing bodies has already contacted us to represent them. They are standing up for the interests of their learners and staff. We encourage any other governing body facing the same challenges to take a firm stand for their rights. This case will create an important precedent for all schools that are unfairly being disadvantaged. AfriForum trusts that lasting solutions can now be found once and for all against this unlawful action of the Metro and maladministration by the authorities. Currently, the defenceless and innocent are being punished for the negligence of officials,” concludes Bailey.