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.

Victory for Tshwane schools: Court orders reconnection of power

Soundbite: Alana Bailey (English)

Soundbite: Alana Bailey (Afrikaans)

AfriForum welcomes the court order that instructs the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality to restore the electricity supply of all schools that were cut off due to non-payment of their property rates. Laerskool Wierdapark and AfriForum approached the court with an urgent application to demand the restoration of power, after it had become known that several schools had been affected – literally leaving them in the dark this past week. This matter was heard in the urgent court in Pretoria today.

According to Alana Bailey, AfriForum’s Head of Cultural Affairs, the schools’ electricity bills have been paid in full, in fact, some have even paid in advance. The bills for services such as electricity and water supply are the responsibility of the schools’ governing bodies. However, the property rates must be paid by the authorities, which currently does not seem to be happening in the Tshwane Metro. AfriForum had won a similar case against this metro in 2009 and was therefore ready to defend schools’ access to services for which they pay once again.

“It is unfair that learners and staff’s rights to have access to quality education, safety and even the provision of their basic needs are being violated due to the authorities’ maladministration. At the affected schools, teaching could not take place as usual. Systems that should protect safety on the premises were not working. Feeding schemes that should provide hot meals to the most vulnerable children could not continue, while supplies in refrigerators spoiled. Where schools have generators, only the most essential services could be provided and this at an extremely high cost due to the current diesel price. Even this limited supply of electricity was therefore not sustainable,” Bailey explains.

“AfriForum is grateful for the speedy relief that the court order provides to the affected schools and trusts that the Metro will consult with the relevant authorities in the future, instead of trying to hold schools accountable for outstanding debts that they are not responsible for. Not only does this punish the innocent, but it also jeopardises learners’ right to quality education and safety, which is completely unacceptable. The cost order issued to the Metro is also welcomed and confirms the unlawful nature of its actions,” Bailey concludes.