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.

Service delivery in Emfuleni is an afterthought not a priority – AfriForum demands answers

AfriForum has filed an application under the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) with the Emfuleni Local Municipality over its continued failure to provide reliable refuse removal services to the residents of the Vaal Triangle. Residents’ refuse is sometimes only removed once a month, despite the Municipality having spent almost R700 million on overtime payments over the past six years.

This inconsistent service delivery results in residents either living among piles of refuse or running the risk of dumping their own refuse at dangerous landfill sites.

“The Emfuleni Local Municipality has for too long treated municipal refuse removal as an afterthought, rather than a priority. Communities are forced to live among refuse, while municipalities continue to spend taxpayers’ money without the necessary transparency or accountability. This situation is not only unacceptable, but unsustainable,” says Maree van den Berg, District Coordinator for AfriForum.

AfriForum now wants answers from this Municipality about its inability to deliver basic services to the residents of the Vaal Triangle. “Full transparency about the state of service delivery over the past 12 months, as well as the Municipality’s ability to deliver this service and do it sustainably, is necessary to force the Municipality to deliver basic refuse removal or scrap the fees charged for it,” says Van den Berg.

The Emfuleni Municipality already purchased a brand-new fleet of vehicles in February with the aim of improving service delivery in the region. However, allegations of financial irregularities at the Municipality, as well as misappropriation and corruption by municipal officials are now doing the rounds. Residents of the Vaal Triangle are at a loss and have approached AfriForum to find out whether public funds are being used properly.

“AfriForum is committed to holding the Municipality accountable for its failure to deliver basic services,” says Van den Berg.

AfriForum has already launched community-driven initiatives, including waste collection projects and clean-up drives, in the area to mitigate the impact of erratic service delivery. The organisation will continue to expand these efforts, while doing everything it can to enforce accountability and restore proper governance.

AfriForum has meanwhile launched a petition to put pressure on the Emfuleni Municipality to resume its refuse removal efforts. The civil rights organisation is encouraging residents to make their voices heard and sign the petition.