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 urges KZN Premier to investigate COGTA’s unfair removal of traditional leaders

This media statement is also available in Zulu.

Soundbite: Barend Uys (English)

Soundbite: Barend Uys (Afrikaans)

AfriForum today sent a letter to the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Thami Ntuli, urging him to take urgent steps to prevent the further illegal, unlawful and unfair actions against izinduna (headmen) and to urgently investigate the unlawful actions taken against traditional leaders in the province. This follows requests for support that AfriForum received from traditional leaders and community members relating to the purported actions that the provincial Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (KZN-COGTA) has taken against local traditional leaders with the aim of dismissing them from their positions.

“AfriForum is very concerned about the negative impact that these actions could have on the stability and development of grassroots communities and the far-reaching consequences that can potentially result from this. We are all well aware of the scourge of killings that traditional leaders in the province are facing – under such circumstances, it is crucial that there is transparent, just, legal and wise conduct from all stakeholders, including government officials,” says Barend Uys, Head of Intercultural Relations and Cooperation at AfriForum.

KZN-COGTA has sent letters to at least eight traditional leaders since mid-April accusing them of misconduct, among other things, and giving them 21 days to respond or face dismissal.

The content of the letters from KZN-COGTA as well as the responses thereto, cast serious doubt on the justness, legitimacy and legality of the steps taken against the leaders. The letters reveal the following:

Due process as determined by the applicable legislation is not being followed.
Allegations are levelled against the leaders without supporting documents provided to them.
Generalised, unsubstantiated allegations such as “not behaving appropriately” and “not being trustworthy and honourable” are levelled against the leaders.
Many of the letters from KZN-COGTA are unsigned and undated.
The exact same allegations are being made against various leaders.
Many of the letters were received by leaders on the exact same date.

“The institution of traditional leadership plays a very important role within the cultural communities in South Africa and should be respected, protected and developed. AfriForum is working to establish good relations and cooperation between Afrikaners and the other cultural communities in the country, based on mutual recognition and respect. The unique cultural identity and institutions of all cultural communities, including traditional leadership, are part of the fabric of our society and have an important role to play in the future. This is why AfriForum is privileged to, when requested, also provide assistance to the institution of traditional leadership,” concludes Uys.