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 Ngwathe Municipality about continued sewage pollution and poor service delivery

AfriForum yesterday (23 April) formally urged the Ngwathe Local Municipality to take urgent action against the ongoing dumping of raw sewage at Die Sandgat in Parys, where raw sewage flows directly into the Vaal River. This problem has persisted for some time and has been brought to the Municipality’s attention several times, without any significant improvement.

This request follows the wrongful appointment of Futhuli Patrick Mothamaha as Municipal Manager of the Ngwathe Municipality in 2024. AfriForum has been demanding Mothamaha’s suspension since 2025 after he was arrested and charged with fraud, theft, money laundering and the violation of the Municipal Finance Management Act. A total of R1,9 million allegedly disappeared from the Maluti-A-Phofung Local Municipality’s budget in 2021, while Mothamaha was serving as Municipal Manager at this Municipality. Since his appointment at the Ngwathe Municipality two years ago, Mothamaha has also not made any significant improvements regarding service delivery. On the contrary, basic services have only deteriorated further.

According to AfriForum, the continued pollution indicates a serious decline in service delivery and a lack of political will to properly maintain infrastructure. The situation not only poses a risk to the environment but also threatens the health of residents and all users of the Vaal River downstream.

“It is unacceptable that raw sewage continues to flow freely into one of South Africa’s most important water sources, while the Municipality fails to take effective action,” says Alta Pretorius, District Coordinator for AfriForum in the Mooi River.

AfriForum further points out that the Municipality’s lack of action is contrary to national legislation that requires water sources to be protected and pollution to be prevented. Yet it appears that the Municipality continues to appeal court rulings rather than implement sustainable solutions.

“While taxpayers’ money is being used to drag out legal processes, basic service delivery is lagging behind and problems are simply not being resolved,” adds Pretorius.

In addition to the sewage crisis, AfriForum has also expressed concern about the lack of stop signs at many intersections in Parys. The organisation has already donated stop signs to the Municipality, but these have still not been erected. This endangers the lives of road users.

In the letter that AfriForum sent to the Municipality, the organisation requests that clear time frames be urgently provided for a permanent solution to the sewage problem and for the erection of the donated stop signs at identified dangerous intersections.

AfriForum warns that further steps will be considered if the Municipality does not act promptly.

“Communities can no longer bear the consequences of poor management and poor service delivery. AfriForum will continue to apply pressure until there is real improvement,” says Schalk Burger, Chairperson of AfriForum’s Parys branch.

AfriForum calls on the community to stay involved, report injustice and work together to hold local government accountable. Contact Burger on 082 653 4281 to get involved with AfriForum’s Parys branch.