NORTHERN REGION
LIMPOPO
Tzaneen
- During the month of July the #AnchorTownRoadShow campaign was held in Tzaneen and the following successes were achieved:
- AfriForum’s Tzaneen branch handed over stop signs to the traffic department with the aim of improving road safety in the town.
- AfriForum’s Tzaneen branch initiated a clean-up action at the cemetery in Koöperasie Street. The purpose of the action was to clean up the cemetery and environment.
- AfriForum’s Tzaneen branch initiated a clean-up action next to the railway in Modjadjiskloof. The aim of the action was to increase safety in the area seeing as bushes next to the railway served as an escape route for thieves.
- AfriForum’s Tzaneen branch gave the road lines surrounding the Hoërskool Merensky a new layer of paint as part of a school survey launched on Facebook.
- AfriForum’s Tzaneen branch launched a sustainable project during which street names in the town were painted on kerb stones. The purpose of the project was to make street names visible again seeing as nameboards are being stolen.
- AfriForum’s Tzaneen branch held a clean-up action at the Fanie Botha Dam’s Jetty 3. The aim of the action was to clean up the environment and remove garbage from both the bank of the river and the river itself.
- The safety structures of AfriForum’s Tzaneen branch reorganised on 23 July 2019 and subsequently elected a new chairperson for both the neighbourhood watch and the safety portfolio.
- AfriForum’s neighbourhood watches in Tzaneen and Phalaborwa received neighbourhood watch training. The purpose of the training was to ensure that neighbourhood watches are equipped with sufficient knowledge to combat crime.
Ellisras
- The AfriForum neighbourhood watch in Ellisras arrested two alleged poachers in the early hours of the morning in cooperation with the local CPF, the SAPS and community members.
Phalaborwa
- Thanks to the preparedness of AfriForum’s Phalaborwa neighbourhood watch, a suspect was arrested during a routine patrol. This followed after the neighbourhood watch became suspicious after spotting movement at a deserted house. Upon further investigation the neighbourhood watch arrested a suspect that is presumably linked with other offences as well. The neighbourhood watch was assisted by the SAPS. During the arrest, drugs and equipment that was allegedly used during other offences were confiscated.
GAUTENG
- AfriForum held a meeting with the Tshwane Metro at the court after the Metro invited the civil rights organisation for cooperative talks before the urgent court application. The talks centred around the increased tariff implemented by the Metro without Nersa’s approval.
- The Tshwane Metro announced that they will no longer continue with the implementation of the illegal tariff for the term 2019/2020 from 17 July. This followed after continuous pressure and a court case which AfriForum initiated against the Metro to put a stop to this process.
- AfriForum’s Nehemiah management team on the East Rand offered assistance during fires that broke out at two residences in Esther Park, which is located in Kempton Park. They also supplied the affected family with clothes and blankets.
- The AfriForum branches in Brakpan, Benoni and Germiston attended the SAPS’s imbizo to discuss crime statistics in the various areas on the East Rand, as well as to deliver input.
Vanderbijlpark
- The AfriForum neighbourhood watch in Vanderbijlpark this past month launched various actions to safeguard the community. The neighbourhood watch held its monthly patrol at the local cemetery to allow the community to visit the graves of their loved ones without having to worry about their safety.
- AfriForum’s Vanderbijlpark branch officially opened their local branch office and control room.
Roodepoort
- The AfriForum neighbourhood watch in Roodepoort participated in various safety actions and raids during July. The neighbourhood watch offered assistance to the SAPS and ICE Community Policing during an area demarcation operation in Florida, Hamberg and Maraisburg.
Randfontein
- AfriForum’s Randfontein branch and the city council took hands to smarten up the road signs and state of the kerb stones surrounding the town’s primary schools.
Meyerspark
- Members of AfriForum’s Meyerspark neighbourhood watch brought suspects to book in cooperation with Brinant Security and K9 Security. This followed after a member of the community sent a video to the neighbourhood watch in which the suspects were busy jumping over the walls of the neighbours. The neighbourhood watch reacted immediately and captured the suspects in cooperation with the security companies, after which the police was summoned and arrested the suspects.
Kempton Park
- The branch executed an operation in cooperation with the SAPS and various safety organisations during which illegal ammunition and drugs were found.
- The Kempton Park branch offered assistance to a Birchleigh resident and summoned medical services to the residence.
- The branch received crime scene training together with the SAPS.
- The AfriForum branch rendered assistance during the prevention of a hijacking incident.
- The branch was of assistance during an incident of domestic violence.
- The Kempton Park branch supported the SPCA during the removal of a dog that bit a person.
- The branch rendered assistance to Alpha Security during a burglary.
- The branch was of assistance at an accident scene.
- The AfriForum branch assisted residents of a complex after their vehicle’s wheels were stolen.
- The branch helped residents of the same complex with the erection of an electrical fence.
- The Kempton Park branch offered assistance during the issuing of fines by the SAPS and the EMPD to those shops exceeding operational hours.
- AfriForum’s Kempton Park neighbourhood watch executed various visibility patrols in the area as part of the neighbourhood watch’s proactive approach to community safety.
- The neighbourhood watch participated in raids in cooperation with the SAPS, the EMPD, the local CPF and various security companies during which four arrests were made.
- AfriForum’s Kempton Park neighbourhood watch participated in the operations of the SAPS during which illegal weapons and drugs were confiscated and one arrest was made.
Alberton
- AfriForum’s Alberton neighbourhood watch arrested two alleged suspects that stole goods from a truck. The neighbourhood watch subsequently handed the suspects over to the SAPS.
Springs
- AfriForum’s Springs branch submitted criminal charges against the municipal manager of the Ekurhuleni Metro concerning the ongoing sewage spillage in the Blesbokspruit.
- AfriForum’s Endicott smallholding watch in Springs rendered assistance during the extinguishing of 21 fires.
- AfriForum’s Endicott smallholding watch in Springs collected 67 blankets for the local community.
- AfriForum’s Endicott smallholding watch in Springs rendered assistance during a hit-and-run incident and used the TrackBox app to summon emergency services.
- AfriForum’s Endicott smallholding watch in Springs expanded its house numbering project and affixed more than 60 new house numbers at residences in the community.
- AfriForum’s Springs neighbourhood watch rendered air support to the SAPS during the scouting of a high crime area.
Benoni
- AfriForum’s Benoni neighbourhood watch brought three alleged suspects to book in cooperation with the local CPF.
Edenvale
- AfriForum’s Edenvale and Kempton Park neighbourhood watches executed an operation in cooperation with the SAPS, the local CPF and security companies during which five arrests were made and illegal weapons were confiscated.
Germiston
- After continuous pressure by AfriForum’s Germiston branch, various streetlights in the area were replaced, trees close to electrical cables were pruned, stop streets were painted and a sewage leak in Elsburg was repaired.
- AfriForum’s Germiston branch was of assistance at a burning garage that was converted into a flat.
West Moot
- The youth portfolio of AfriForum’s West Moot branch presented training to the local youth with regard to the extinguishing of fires. During the training the youth learned how to distinguish between a fire of common flammable material, as well as chemical and electrical fires.
East Moot
- AfriForum’s East Moot neighbourhood watch installed 12 floodlights in Pieter Human Park in cooperation with the Tshwane Metro, a local ward councillor and the community to improve safety in the surrounding areas. This followed after a resident contacted the neighbourhood watch with the need to lighten up the park to deter criminals from strolling around the area unseen and free. AfriForum and the community sponsored the lights, after which the Tshwane Metro installed it.
- Members of AfriForum’s East Moot neighbourhood watch arrested two cable thieves in cooperation with the SAPS and Kilnerpark Security during one of the neighbourhood watch’s visibility patrols.
Rayton-Cullinan
- AfriForum reorganised its Rayton-Cullinan branch.
MPUMALANGA
- AfriForum’s environmental affairs team opposed a planned coal mine close to the Kruger National Park.
- AfriForum neighbourhood watch members of Cairn-Burnside (Nelspruit), Lydenburg, Machadodorp, Middelburg and White River attended a combined training day in Middelburg. The training included, among others, law and risk training, home and hearth protection, the functioning of intelligence, as well as crime scene handling.
White River
- Members of AfriForum’s White River neighbourhood watch rendered assistance with various veldt fires.
- Neighbourhood watch members apprehended a suspect that stole a cell phone.
Bethal
- Bethal’s AfriForum branch supplied water to a primary school in cooperation with the local CPF and farmers from the Bethal region after the school’s reservoirs dried up during the water crisis in the town.
- The Bethal branch erected water points during the water crisis to bring relief to residents that initially had to make do without water.
Piet Retief
- AfriForum’s Piet Retief neighbourhood watch held a mass patrol.
- The neighbourhood watch received training in the month of July that included law and risk training, home and hearth protection, the functioning of intelligence, as well as crime scene handling.
- AfriForum’s Piet Retief branch launched clean-up actions in the cemetery.
Standerton
- AfriForum’s Standerton neighbourhood watch rendered assistance with veldt fires in and around the town.
- AfriForum’s Standerton neighbourhood watch held mass patrol.
- AfriForum’s Standerton neighbourhood watch held an operation to prevent cattle theft in cooperation with the SAPS.
- AfriForum’s Standerton branch assisted the community by repairing burst water pipes.
- AfriForum’s Standerton neighbourhood watch received training in the month of July that included law and risk training, home and hearth protection, the functioning of intelligence, as well as crime scene handling.
Teks (Trichardt, Eloff, Kinross and Secunda)
- AfriForum’s Teks branch sponsored the golf day to help collect funds and recruit members.
- The Teks neighbourhood watch assisted at a crime scene by regulating traffic.
- The Teks neighbourhood watch received training in July that included law and risk training, home and hearth protection, the functioning of intelligence, as well as crime scene handling.
Delmas
- AfriForum’s Delmas neighbourhood watch received training in July that included law and risk training, home and hearth protection, the functioning of intelligence, as well as crime scene handling.
Witbank
- AfriForum’s Witbank branch performed project planning for phase three of their road safety project.
CENTRAL REGION
NORTH WEST
Vryburg
- The AfriForum branch in Vryburg organised an action for residents to bring their garbage to the municipality seeing as it wasn’t removed. The branch management subsequently arranged an appointment with the administrator of the municipality.
Delareyville
- The AfriForum branch in Delareyville traced a stolen vehicle thanks to their camera system.
Sannieshof
- The AfriForum neighbourhood watch in Sannieshof accepted a repeater.
Schweizer-Reneke
- The AfriForum branch in Schweizer-Reneke assisted the municipality with repairs regarding the electricity supply.
Brits
- AfriForum held a community safety and branch establishment meeting in Brits. Approximately 100 people turned up for the meeting during which the management team of the Brits branch was elected.
FREE STATE
Bethlehem
- The AfriForum branch in Bethlehem presented Stop the Bleed training to the community. During the training community members are being taught how to react in an emergency situation – to stop serious bleeding of a wound in the correct manner and how to correctly place pressure on it until emergency services arrive on the scene.
Kroonstad
- AfriForum in July held meetings with both the municipal manager and the executive mayor of the Moqhaha Local Municipality. This newly established branch asked for a meeting with the municipality to introduce the branch management, as well as to ensure good cooperation in future.
Welkom
- AfriForum’s Welkom branch placed the Matjhabeng Local Municipality on terms as a result of the poor management and decline of this area’s landfill sites. None of the landfill sites under the jurisdiction of this Municipality comply with the necessary legal requirements.
Reitz
- The Reitz branch placed the Nketoana Local Municipality on terms due to the state and decline of the landfill site. The landfill site doesn’t comply with the necessary legal requirements. The branch will in future closely monitor the landfill site and allow the Municipality a certain amount of time to react to AfriForum’s letter.
SOUTHERN REGION
NORTHERN CAPE
- AfriForum directed letters to the following people to arrange meetings to discuss certain matters: The Premier of the Northern Cape, the MEC of COGHTA, as well as the MEC for Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development in the Northern Cape.
Prieska
- AfriForum’s Prieska branch directed letters to the municipal manager of the Siyathemba Local Municipality regarding pollution of the Prieska River and eventually the pollution of the Orange River, as well as the cleaning up of water drain ditches.
Kimberley
- AfriForum’s Kimberley branch handed over neighbourhood watch equipment to neighbourhood watch members.
- AfriForum’s Kimberley branch directed letters to the municipal manager concerning the vandalization of a cemetery in the city, as well as regarding water problems that are experienced in the Ritchie area.
Vaalharts
- AfriForum’s Vaalharts branch identified problems with the province’s roads in cooperation with the department responsible for the province’s roadworks.
- AfriForum’s Vaalharts branch handed over a letter to the municipal administrator and insisted on arranging a meeting to discuss matters that need to be tackled in the municipal area.
Aliwal North
- AfriForum’s Aliwal North branch assisted with the donation of fodder to farmers in the Aberdeen area.
- AfriForum’s Aliwal North branch attended meetings regarding the dumping of sewage in the Orange River.
Elliot
- AfriForum’s Elliot branch rendered assistance with the repair of water supply to Arlington.
Williston
- AfriForum’s Williston branch held a meeting with the Department of Roadworks in the Northern Cape to discuss the state of the province’s gravel roads.
WESTERN CAPE
Mossel Bay
- The AfriForum repeater for the Greater Brandwag and Herbertsdale farm watches was erected on the Gondwana Game Lodge.
- Basic water tests were done of the Hartenbos River and submitted during the meeting of the Hartenbos River Forum, where AfriForum has representation. Everything except the E. coli levels – which were somewhat high – was within limits.
- AfriForum’s Greater Brandwag farm watch held an extremely successful reaction plan simulation for a farm attack in cooperation with the rural sector of the Da Gama SAPS
Helderberg Basin
- AfriForum’s Gordon’s Bay neighbourhood watch, which forms part of the civil rights organisation’s Helderberg Basin branch structure, was contacted after a house in Gordon’s Bay caught fire. Members of the mentioned neighbourhood watch rushed to the scene where Gordon’s Bay Security was already present. The fire brigade was summoned and managed to extinguish the fire before the house was totally reduced to ruins. Members of the AfriForum neighbourhood watch safeguarded the house during night-time and regularly held patrols at the site throughout the day to protect it against theft. This was done from the day the fire started until the owners moved back into the house again.
Malmesbury
- The civil rights organisation AfriForum gave well-deserved acknowledgement to employees of the Highlands landfill site near Malmesbury for their excellent management of the site. Deon de Jager, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for the Boland, thanked all the employees of the site for their contribution to the success of the site. Brad Theron, Chairperson of the Environmental Affairs Portfolio of AfriForum’s Malmesbury branch, also presented a certificate to Gerhard Havinga, Manager of the site. The Malmesbury branch rewarded all the employees with a gift pack consisting of snacks and cooldrink.
Overstrand
- AfriForum’s Alfa neighbourhood watch in the Overstrand assisted with the arrest of four suspects after a house burglary occurred just before midnight in Onrus. A search was launched after information regarding the suspects was shared with all the role-players, including Fidelity ADT and the SAPS.
Robertson
- AfriForum held a branch establishment meeting in Robertson after the community approached the civil rights organisation and expressed a big need for community safety in the region.