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 ready to take on Knysna water crisis, now advocating for cooperation agreement

Soundbite: Marthinus Erasmus (English)

Soundbite: Marthinus Erasmus (Afrikaans)

According to AfriForum’s Knysna branch, the suspension of Dr Lulamile Mapholoba, Municipal Manager of the Knysna Local Municipality, not only leaves a gap in the management of this municipality but will also put further pressure on the ongoing water crisis in the area. In the interest of the Knysna community, AfriForum therefore urgently encourages the conclusion of a cooperation agreement between the municipality and the civil rights organisation.

AfriForum’s Knysna branch already approached the municipality about this early last year. According to Marthinus Erasmus, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for the Southern Cape, negotiations are still ongoing, but the organisation is concerned that negotiations may now, after Mapholoba’s suspension, come to a standstill.

Erasmus explains: “Such an agreement will enable the civil rights organisation to make a real contribution to service delivery and crisis management in the municipality. It is becoming increasingly clear that the Knysna Municipality, as well as many other municipalities, does not have the ability or capacity to apply effective, preventive management. That is why AfriForum is ready with a variety of experts to assist municipalities, protect residents’ rights and help ensure that communities receive the services they deserve.”

The civil rights organisation points out that urgent action is essential to tackle the illegal water use, poor infrastructure maintenance and persistent mismanagement in the municipality.

Erasmus criticises the municipality’s apparent inability to curb the illegal water use. “It is simply not fair that law-abiding residents with water metres are being charged for their usage, while an estimated 8 000 of the 11 000 water metres are being illegally bypassed. The burden is therefore placed on the shoulders of a small group of responsible residents while illegal usage continues largely unchecked,” says Erasmus.

The municipality’s poor infrastructure planning and maintenance also create serious challenges for sustainable water use in the municipality, according to Erasmus. “The municipality has a critical responsibility to meet its obligation. Residents cannot be continuously burdened with strict water restrictions, while more than 50% of available water is lost due to water leakage. Better management is essential to prevent this waste,” he explains.

AfriForum further argues that the uniform application of water restrictions across the entire municipal area is unreasonable. “A town like Sedgefield, which is fed by separate water sources, is also subjected to the same strict water restrictions as Knysna, even though Sedgefield does not necessarily experience the same level of water scarcity as Knysna. This approach demonstrates a lack of differentiated planning and equitable management,” explains Erasmus.

Despite shortcomings, Erasmus does emphasise that the commitment of many municipal officials in managing the current water crisis is to be welcomed. “Johnny Douglas, Director of Community Services, and the Knysna Joint Operations Centre have an extremely difficult task and are fighting hard to try to reverse the infrastructure decay and management backlogs of the past decade. AfriForum’s Knysna branch stands ready to assist Douglas and his team where possible and encourages the public to continue to use water sparingly, as the water scarcity is not over yet.”