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 new tracking course a milestone for rural safety

Soundbite: Jacques Broodryk (English)

Soundbite: Jacques Broodryk (Afrikaans)

AfriForum reached an important milestone this past week with the launch of its new tailor-made basic tracking course. This course aims to address the serious shortage of effective tracking capabilities following farm attacks, other rural crimes, and illegal border crossings, and was developed over the past six months in collaboration with an internationally renowned tracking instructor.

The course was launched in response to the inadequate capacity of statutory and private security agencies to collect, store and follow up on criminals’ tracks. Tracking dogs are often unavailable, and even where they are available, there are often limitations on their use and capabilities.

Six senior staff members from AfriForum’s safety team completed the four-day course to test and evaluate the content and presentation of this new course. AfriForum will now finalise the course and soon offer it to selected members of its rural safety structures.

The course consists of both theoretical and intense practical sessions, where different types of tracks are simulated over diverse terrains. Course participants were taught how to detect, identify and follow these tracks over long distances. The course also emphasised tactical aspects of tracking operations, including strategies for gaining an advantage in potential shoot-outs with criminals.

According to Thomas van Dalen, Training Manager at AfriForum, it is important to note that the use of a tracker should not be seen in isolation, however, and that the application of this expertise should be followed as part of an integrated approach. “Tracking should be integrated with command-and-control measures implemented from the operation’s tactical headquarters or joint operations centre. The use of technology, such as closed-circuit cameras and smaller tactical drones, the implementation of thoroughly planned and rehearsed contingency plans and good mutual communication will significantly ease the task of the tracker. Therefore, cooperation between all security role players is critical to enable trackers to catch up with suspected criminals and ensure their arrest with the help of the operational forces.”

The development of an advanced tracking course and an instructor course is already being envisaged.

Jacques Broodryk, Chief Spokesperson for Community Safety at AfriForum, says: “We are very excited about the potential of this course. This course provides a practical and functional solution to a real problem that communities face on a daily basis. By developing these skills internally, we strengthen AfriForum’s ability to act decisively and effectively in emergency situations.”