AfriForum’s Crush Corruption training campaign was on 10 April presented in Nylstroom. This follows after the civil rights watchdog’s anti-corruption unit was also extended to local government level to expose corruption taking place on this level with the help of community members.
Adv. Gerrie Nel, Head of AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit, and Wico Swanepoel, AfriForum’s Legal Adviser for Local Corruption, addressed the community of Nylstroom and surrounding areas.
“Corruption affects everyone in the community and the combating thereof starts at every individual. Anyone with information about corrupt behaviour has a responsibility to submit a charge at the SAPS and as such blow the proverbial whistle. AfriForum is committed to protecting whistle-blowers that come forward with corruption information,” says Swanepoel.
Adv. Nel explained in a practical manner what corruption entails and how it can be exposed. Focus is given to, amongst others, the role which factors such as good investigative work, normal and expert witnesses, documentation, whistle-blowers and technology (like cell phones and computers) play in the process to investigate corruption and ultimately expose it.
According to Jaco Grobbelaar, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for Limpopo, the civil rights organisation wants to help communities stand up against corruption. “Corruption in our local municipalities is our people’s money being wasted. Communities working together to erase corruption already on local level can prevent the decline of towns and send a strong message that corruption will not be tolerated.”
Are you aware of corruption in your town, but fear victimisation? AfriForum offers protection to whistle-blowers. SMS your town’s name to 32782 (R1) to make a difference.