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.

Millions wasted while JB Marks paints a rosy picture

AfriForum’s Potchefstroom branch recently submitted comments on the poor state of the JB Marks Local Municipality’s finances and expressed its concern about the Municipality’s misrepresentation of the state of affairs to the public. This after the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC) wanted to paint a rosy picture of the Municipality’s performance at a public meeting, while in reality millions of rand were lost on irregular expenditure.

The MPAC annual report for the 2024/2025 financial year points to serious financial mismanagement, poor governance and poor service delivery. It was found, among other things, that:

approximately R210 million was spent on irregular expenditure;
fruitless and wasteful expenditure, largely due to late payments to Eskom, amounted to R78 million; and
a total of R255 million was spent on unauthorised expenditure.

In addition, it was found that the Municipality has serious shortcomings in its procurement processes, including contracts awarded without proper tender processes; no accountability or disciplinary action against offenders; deficient debt collection; and an absence of effective internal control measures and audit structures.

Although the Municipality has already received an unqualified audit, AfriForum points out that the content of the report clearly indicates systemic problems and ongoing financial mismanagement.

“The poor condition of Potchefstroom speaks volumes. No municipal manager or council can be proud of the current state of affairs,” says Alta Pretorius, District Coordinator of AfriForum’s Mooi River branch.

“The standard excuse of staff shortages and slow processes is no longer acceptable, especially when basic service delivery, such as working street lights and maintenance of infrastructure, is clearly lacking.”

AfriForum has accordingly called on the Municipality to restore management practices and take effective action to improve service delivery. AfriForum has confirmed its willingness to work with the Municipality to find solutions but insists that political and administrative will is essential to bring about real change.

“The civil rights organisation remains committed to holding the Municipality accountable for the delivery of basic services, as well as the widespread misappropriation of funds intended for reliable service delivery,” says Douglas Bourn, Chairperson of AfriForum’s Potchefstroom branch.

Get involved with the AfriForum branch and neighbourhood watch in Potchefstroom and help keep your environment safe. Contact Bourn at 083 232 1020 to join the branch and Cornelia Blignaut at 073 390 4133 to join the neighbourhood watch.