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.

Women hold their own during AfriForum’s first women’s rapid response team training

AfriForum reached a new milestone in community safety last week when 14 women from various branches in KwaZulu-Natal participated in the organization’s first rapid-response team training session exclusively for women.

The training, which took place from 24 to 27 September, was attended by female neighborhood watch members from Vryheid, Paulpietersburg, and Newcastle.

AfriForum’s proto-teams consist of trained members of its community safety structures who are equipped to act in, among other scenarios, high-pressure and emergency situations. The training includes practical skills such as tactical firearm handling, self-defence, radio communication, securing and approaching crime scenes, approaching vehicles and buildings, responding to violent incidents, and basic emergency medical response.

According to Jacques Broodryk, AfriForum’s chief spokesperson on community safety, the training is an important milestone, but also proof that women are playing an increasingly significant role in the safety of their communities.

“Protospan training is demanding. It places participants in situations where they must think, communicate, make decisions, and act responsibly under pressure. These ladies have shown that they hold their own in this operational environment. We are immensely proud of them.”

Yshrene Pillay from Vryheid, one of the participants, says safety is particularly important to her because she lives on a smallholding.

“Safety and security are extremely important to me. The four days of tactical training taught me valuable practical skills, including vigilance, discipline, responsibility, and how to remain calm under pressure. I am sincerely grateful to AfriForum for this opportunity and for the investment in our safety and preparedness,” says Pillay.

Linda de Jager, chairperson of AfriForum’s Vryheid branch, also completed the training. She says her goal was to improve her knowledge and skills regarding safe firearm handling and to gain practical experience in crime prevention within a team context.

“The training gave me the opportunity to expand my knowledge and skills, but also to strengthen my personal development and discipline. As a woman living alone, it is important for me to possess the knowledge and skills to take responsible care of my own safety,” says De Jager.

Broodryk says women already play a pivotal role at various levels within AfriForum’s neighborhood and farm watch structures, and that their involvement in more advanced training needs to be further expanded.

“Safe communities are built by ordinary people who are willing to take responsibility and equip themselves to help others. These women did exactly that. They worked hard for four days to learn skills that they hopefully will never need to use in a real emergency, but which could prove invaluable when seconds count.”