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.

Street by street, AfriForum shows that self-governance is possible in Chrissiesmeer

Since AfriForum established its Chrissiesmeer branch in this beloved tourist town on Mpumalanga’s Highveld, a significant turnaround has been visible, and in the past month the branch has once again embarked on several projects to sustain this revival.

Chrissiesmeer is a town with a rich history that has several guesthouses and wedding venues. However, the Msukaligwa Local Municipality has neglected service delivery in this town in the past few years. Serious decay, overgrown green areas and overall deterioration have severely damaged the town’s attraction as a tourist destination. However, the turnaround that the local AfriForum branch has achieved here in the past year is already playing a critical role in the revival of Chrissiesmeer and the promotion of the town as a tourist destination. The branch is continuously undertaking projects to bring about repairs here and to keep the streets clean and tidy again – thereby showing that self-governance in Chrissiesmeer is now within reach.

During March, the Chrissiesmeer branch continued its refuse collection service, removing more than 80 bags of refuse from households and businesses. During the period when the Municipality was unable to carry out any refuse collection, the branch also stepped in to tackle the task itself and removed 100 bags of refuse.

*AfriForum’s Chrissiesmeer branch at work*

In addition, the branch cut more than 11 hectares of grass and tidied up various access routes to the town, including those on the N17 and the roads to Breyten, Carolina and Warburton. The town’s memorial wall, old tennis courts and cemetery were also cut clean, while efforts are being made to keep vacant lots clean and limit potential hiding places for stowaways or criminals.

“AfriForum’s projects in Chrissiesmeer are a targeted effort to take our town back and restore it to its former glory. We are tired of municipalities’ empty promises, but now we are tackling matters ourselves and are on the verge of proving that self-governance here is not only possible but the only solution,” says Millicent van den Heever, Chairperson of the Chrissiesmeer branch.

The branch is currently preparing to launch a street name project, which will involve the installation of new street name plates. Van den Heever invites businesses and residents to get involved in the project or support the branch financially.

Join and get involved with AfriForum’s Chrissiesmeer branch today. Visit www.wordlid.co.za for more information.