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.

More sewage pollution in Upington: AfriForum demands action following shocking water test results

AfriForum demands urgent action from the Dawid Kruiper Local Municipality regarding sewage that has been flowing – for about four years now – in Belview, underneath the N14 highway, towards the Orange River. The organisation has requested, among other things, that the municipal manager, Dr. Elias Ntoba, ensure the problem is resolved and that the municipality communicates honestly with the community about the state of the water and the health risks it poses to the community.

On 12 October, AfriForum had water samples analysed by an independent laboratory; the test results indicate the presence of extremely high levels of faecal coliform bacteria and E. coli in the wastewater tested at the N14 manhole in Belview. According to the results, more than 2,419,600 faecal coliforms and 2,359,000 E. coli per 100 ml were recorded. To comply with the minimum microbiological standards for wastewater, there must be fewer than 1,000 CFU of faecal coliforms per 100 ml. The results significantly exceed this limit and point to serious faecal contamination.

It appears that this problem is linked to a blocked sewer pipe located within the reeds along the route from Belview to the wastewater treatment plant. This poses a significant risk to the community, as some community members draw water from the canal for domestic use, and there are also farming operations along the canal that rely on this water.

“It is unacceptable for a sewage problem of this nature to persist for so long, even though community members and organisations like AfriForum have repeatedly pointed it out. The community deserves a solution. The municipality is now gambling with residents’ health, and that cannot be allowed to happen,” says Werner Strauss, AfriForum’s district coordinator in the Northern Cape.

The organisation further requests that independent water tests be conducted at the sewage outflow, upstream and downstream in the canal, and at relevant points in the Orange River.

“If the municipality does not respond to our demands within five days, AfriForum will consider further steps. We already laid criminal charges against Dr. Ntoba at the end of September – specifically regarding sewage – and will not hesitate to lodge further charges of this nature against him. We will hold the municipality accountable,” concludes Strauss.