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.

Sewerage nightmare: Ekurhuleni Metro must now solve problem

Civil rights organisation AfriForum believes that the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality should put the community’s well-being first. This comes after parts of Benoni and Brakpan continued to suffer from raw sewage flowing through the streets for months.

In addition to the health risks associated with the sewage crisis, significant damage has also been done to infrastructure. Some roads are almost impassable due to potholes that have begun to form as a result of the sewage constantly flowing through the streets.

Areas currently severely affected by this sewage spill are the subway in Main Reef Road in Brakpan, and Lancaster, Dagenham and Styx Roads in Benoni.

According to Nadia Olckers, AfriForum’s district coordinator for the East Rand, these roads are flooded with raw sewage. “Hundreds of motorists and pedestrians use these roads daily and if pedestrians do not walk through it, they are splashed with it when motorists are forced to drive through the sewage. There are also residences, apartment blocks and businesses that are severely affected by this. It remains concerning to us that the Metro is simply turning its back on the problem.”

Olckers further says that the Metro’s failure to act infringes on residents’ constitutional rights as every individual has the right in terms of Section 24 of the Constitution to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being.

In addition, there are various pieces of legislation that emphasise a healthy environment that should not be subject to pollution. Furthermore, municipalities are also responsible in terms of the Water Supply Act (108 of 1997) for ensuring sustainable sanitation services – something that is not currently the case in Brakpan and Benoni.

“AfriForum requests an urgent action plan from the Metro with a clear timeline on when and in what manner they intend to address this problem,” adds Olckers.

The organisation also requests documentation indicating a thorough investigation into the sewage problem in the various areas as well as that emergency measures must be implemented to protect the community and solve the problem.

“The Metro needs to do more to address these types of problems faster and also to communicate more transparently with the community about how long the problem will continue and how they will solve it,” concludes Olckers.

Get involved at your nearest branch today to make a difference together. Visit www.wordlid.co.za.