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: Vryheid's power network and roads particularly need attention, says AfriForum

The AfriForum branch in Vryheid is calling on the Abaqulusi Local Municipality to make Vryheid’s unstable power network and poor roads a priority in the new financial year 2025/2026. The condition of the local cemetery is also a sensitive issue that needs urgent attention. The branch submitted these written suggestions regarding service delivery on the Abaqulusi Municipality’s annual Integrated Development Plan (IDP) on 11 March.

This branch has already achieved success in the past with some of its proposals being included in the Municipality’s IDP and completed, including one of Vryheid’s poor roads being 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

Vryheid has been experiencing regular power outages for the past few years, especially on smallholdings, which then makes it a target for criminals. These outages have serious implications for this small KwaZulu-Natal town. Some businesses had to close their doors permanently due to the financial implications of the constant power outages. The power outages are due to poor maintenance, therefore the Abaqulusi must be held accountable for its inability to take care of the power network and fully restore it. Regarding the roads, AfriForum proposes that parts of Vryheid’s main routes – Market, Emmet and South Streets – be rebuilt. Furthermore, the municipality cleans the cemetery on an irregular basis, which poses dangers to the community with homeless people and criminals hiding there.

It is worrying that 53% – which amounts to a worth of R39 million – of the Abaqulusi Municipality’s purified water is lost according to the Auditor-General’s (AG) report. “This loss can only be attributed to illegal connections and mainly leaking water infrastructure,” says André van der Walt, AfriForum’s branch Chairperson for Vryheid.

Expenditure

According to the AG’s report, the total revenue for the Abaqulusi Municipality was R733,64 million in the 2022/2023 financial year, of which R477,4 million was generated by the Municipality. The National Treasury’s website indicates that the property tax revenue for 2023 and 2024 was R99 million and R120,6 million respectively. 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 misallocated a total of R552,6 million in expenditure during the 2022/2023 financial year, which can likely be attributed to misappropriation. This includes R250,1 million in unauthorised expenditure, R289,9 million in irregular expenditure and R3,6 million in fruitless and wasteful expenditure incurred.

According to the AG’s report, non-competitive and unfair purchases are being made. Only 6,1% of the budget was spent on maintenance, while the National Treasury recommends 8%. AfriForum is concerned that the low spending on maintenance of machinery and other equipment contributes to the current poor service delivery.

AfriForum is planning a public meeting soon to discuss plans for cooperation with the community to tackle the problems in Vryheid. It is time for the community to join hands to reverse the decline of their town. During this meeting, the AfriForum branch also wants to recruit new committee members who will help restore Vryheid to its full glory.

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