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 warns about dangerous R59 road and demands urgent repairs before Nampo Harvest Day

Soundbite: Jaco Grobbelaar (English)

Soundbite: Jaco Grobbelaar (Afrikaans)

AfriForum is appealing to the Free State Department of Community Safety, Roads and Transport to urgently intervene in the dire condition of roads in and around Viljoenskroon. These roads pose a serious safety risk to road users, especially with the annual Nampo Harvest Day just around the corner. The organisation is particularly concerned about the condition of the R59 – one of the main routes to the Nampo site in Bothaville. A section of this road has been flooded and closed for months, while large sections of it between Viljoenskroon and Vredefort are riddled with potholes and serious structural damage.

According to a letter sent by AfriForum to the Department today, motorists are currently being diverted via Viljoenskroon. However, the town’s streets are also in a dire condition and are not properly maintained by the Moqhaka Local Municipality. As a result, thousands of visitors who want to attend Nampo are forced to drive on ruined roads. AfriForum’s letter was also sent to the Municipality and the South African Roads Agency for intervention.

Although a section of the R59 has been under construction for some time, no progress has been made. AfriForum has also expressed serious concerns about the standard of work that the appointed contractor has performed so far on the R59 and Fortuna Street project.

According to Jaco Grobbelaar, AfriForum’s Head for the Central Region, the condition of the roads is not only an infrastructure problem, but also a direct safety risk for road users. “With thousands of visitors expected to attend the Nampo Harvest Day, the current condition of the roads could lead to serious accidents. Urgent intervention is needed before the Harvest Day kicks off in about two months,” demands Grobbelaar.

AfriForum has also launched a public petition in which residents and road users can request the government to take urgent action. Each person who signs the petition will also have a formal complaint registered with the relevant authorities.

“The government has a responsibility to ensure that public infrastructure is safe and usable. The current condition of the roads around Viljoenskroon is unacceptable and endangers the safety of thousands of people,” says Grobbelaar.

AfriForum encourages all residents, farmers and road users to sign the petition and make their voices heard.