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.

IDP: Newcastle’s streets and sewer network need urgent attention, says AfriForum

The AfriForum branch in Newcastle is calling on the Newcastle Local Municipality to make the streets and unstable sewerage networks of this town and the surrounding area a priority in the new financial year 2025/2026. The condition of some streets in various neighbourhoods, the central business district, the industrial area and Lennoxton, is a sensitive issue that needs urgent attention. The branches submitted these written proposals regarding service delivery on the municipality’s annual Integrated Development Plan (IDP) on 8 April.

Other branches in KwaZulu-Natal have achieved success in the past with some of their proposals being included in the municipality’s IDP and completed, including one of Vryheid’s poor roads that was rebuilt. “It is therefore important that branches participate in the IDP process to submit proposals that will contribute to development in their communities,” says Eugene van Aswegen, AfriForum’s Provincial Coordinator for KwaZulu-Natal.

Service delivery

For the past few years, communities in the Newcastle area have been experiencing the frequent overflowing of manholes and sewage consequently polluting the rivers around Newcastle. Some of these manholes are located right in front of fast-food restaurants and therefore pose a health risk. The sewage pollution is due to poor maintenance and housing expansions without upgrading the current sewage infrastructure.

Furthermore, many streets are full of potholes because it have not been maintained for years.

It is worrying that 37% – which amounts to a value of R58,9 million – of the Newcastle Municipality’s purified water is being lost according to the Auditor General’s (AG) report. “This loss can only be attributed to illegal connections, mainly leaking water infrastructure,” says SW Scott, AfriForum’s Chairperson for the Newcastle branch.

Expenditure

According to the AG’s report, the total revenue for the Newcastle Municipality was R2,28 billion in the 2022/2023 financial year, of which R1,69 billion was generated by the Municipality. The National Treasury website indicates that the property tax revenue for 2023 for the municipality was R376 million. These funds come from property owners and are for typical non-billable services such as repairing potholes and streetlights, and maintaining sidewalks and parks.

The AG’s report shows that the Municipality incurred irregular expenditure of R534,7 million during the 2022/2023 financial year. This is worrying and AfriForum insists that this must receive urgent attention.

According to the AG’s report, non-competitive and unfair purchases are being made. Various tenders and contracts are being given to government officials, councillors, employees and family members. The Newcastle Municipality spent only 1,2% of its budget on maintenance, while the National Treasury recommends 8%. AfriForum is concerned that the low spending on maintenance of machinery and other equipment is contributing to the current poor service delivery.

Visit www.wordlid.co.za to become part of your nearest AfriForum branch and thus make a real difference in your community.