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’s Lydenburg and Machadodorp branches take the lead in halting the decline of their towns

AfriForum’s Lydenburg and Machadodorp branches each established their own cleaning team over the past week in an effort to halt the growing deterioration of public spaces in these towns and improve their overall appearance.

The two cleaning teams will operate in their respective towns twice a week. Their focus will include cleaning and maintaining public spaces, pavements and parks. The teams will also undertake various projects aimed at improving the general appearance and cleanliness of the towns.

This initiative stems from growing frustration over the poor condition of public spaces and the lack of adequate service delivery by the Thaba Chweu Local Municipality, which is responsible for Lydenburg (Mashishing), and the Emakhazeni Local Municipality, which serves Machadodorp (eNtokozweni).

“We simply could no longer stand by and watch our towns deteriorate while public spaces are neglected and basic service delivery falls by the wayside. Municipalities have a responsibility to maintain these areas, but residents are increasingly being left to deal with the consequences of poor service delivery. We have decided that we will no longer wait for these two failing municipalities to act. If the municipalities fail to fulfil their responsibilities, we as communities will do everything in our power to make a difference,” says Arlo van Heerden, AfriForum’s District Coordinator in the Lowveld.

AfriForum emphasises that these projects do not absolve the municipalities of their responsibilities. The maintenance of public spaces, parks and pavements remains the responsibility of the relevant local authorities. Rather, the cleaning teams serve as practical proof of what AfriForum can achieve when communities decide to take responsibility themselves instead of remaining apathetic in the face of environmental deterioration.

The organisation will continue to put pressure on the relevant municipalities to fulfil their service delivery responsibilities, while the local AfriForum branches will simultaneously continue implementing practical projects to improve the appearance of Mashishing and eNtokozweni.

“We will not allow the decline of our towns to become the new normal. Lydenburg and Machadodorp deserve better. We want towns that residents can be proud of and that we are willing to roll up our sleeves to improve. It is time for communities to get involved and show that they care about the places they call home,” Van Heerden concludes.

AfriForum’s Lydenburg and Machadodorp branches invite members of the public to join the branches and support the cleaning teams in their work.