NORTHERN REGION
LIMPOPO
Phalaborwa
- AfriForum’s Phalaborwa branch handed stop signs to the roads division of the Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality with the aim of improving road safety in the town. These new signs will be put up across the town where stop signs have faded, been vandalised or are missing.
Thabazimbi
- AfriForum established a neighbourhood watch in the Thabazimbi area. The Matlabas West neighbourhood watch was established with the aim of improving safety in the area, as well as to equip the community with the right equipment to safeguard their surroundings in cooperation with the SAPS.
GAUTENG
- AfriForum presented Project Nehemiah training to members of the Greater Pretoria area and the West Rand neighbourhood watches. Project Nehemiah is a strategy against violent crime. During this training, Project Nehemiah’s command group discussed various safety modules with the Greater Pretoria and West Rand neighbourhood watches with the aim of combating crime in these areas and to support community members in addition to making them more prepared. The modules included command and control, area protection, legal aspects, hearth and home protection, the management of information and victim support.
- Approximately 55 members of AfriForum’s neighbourhood watches in Alberton, Brakpan, Germiston and Springs received training in crowd control and radio procedure.
- AfriForum’s East Rand branches submitted written commentary during the City of Ekurhuleni’s (CoE) Integrated Development Plan (IDP) meetings.
Vanderbijlpark
- AfriForum’s Vanderbijlpark branch placed the Emfuleni Local Municipality on terms regarding poor waste removal in the area by handing over a letter to the Municipality.
Roodepoort
- The AfriForum branch in Roodepoort spent some time at Ons Huis, an old-age home in Florida.
Westonaria
- The AfriForum branch in Westonaria hindered the plans of cable thieves in cooperation with community members thanks to a speedy reaction.
Meyerspark
- The Meyerspark branch was quite busy in the community this past month; they worked with the local councillor and ensured that an illegal electricity connection was cut off. The branch also repaired a wall that was recently damaged.
Kempton Park
- AfriForum’s Kempton Park neighbourhood watch offered assistance to the SAPS during an operation during which two successful arrests were made.
- AfriForum’s Kempton Park neighbourhood watch offered assistance to security companies during the safeguarding of a scene where an armed robbery took place.
Alberton
- AfriForum’s Alberton proto team executed various readiness exercises on a farm near Walkerville.
- The AfriForum neighbourhood watch in Alberton offered assistance to the community during heavy rains and hail that caused a lot of damage in this area.
- AfriForum’s Alberton neighbourhood watch offered assistance during the tracking down of a missing 13-year-old child.
Brakpan
- AfriForum’s Brakpan branch received a repeater as part of the expansion of the town’s communication and safety network.
Edenvale
- AfriForum’s Edenvale neighbourhood watch confiscated seven blocks of cocaine and cash in cooperation with the SAPS, while three suspects were also arrested.
East Moot
- AfriForum’s East Moot neighbourhood watch, which is affiliated with the Waverley branch, executed a synchronisation operation. It was this neighbourhood watch’s first large-scale operation in addition to smaller patrols that have already been held.
- AfriForum’s East Moot neighbourhood watch recently assembled at the spruit on the corner of 30th and Cunningham Avenues to launch a huge deforestation action. The aim of the day was simple – the community wanted to assemble to make the area safer. AfriForum’s East Moot neighbourhood watch is an initiative of the organisation’s Waverley branch and functions as the safety division of the branch.
Waverley
- The civil rights organisation AfriForum established a neighbourhood watch in the Waverley area in Pretoria. This new neighbourhood watch is to pay special attention to neighbourhoods within the vicinity of the Villieria police station’s service area and they already have their own radio network.
- AfriForum’s Waverley branch, a few members of AfriForum Youth and the new neighbourhood watch assembled to clean parts of the spruit in the area and to saw off and remove tree branches. This action was launched seeing as illegal sleepers are hiding next to the spruit. During patrols, the long grass also obstructs the view surrounding the spruit.
MPUMALANGA
- AfriForum’s District Coordinator for Mpumalanga assisted in tracing a stolen vehicle according to information received.
- The AfriForum neighbourhood watches in Piet Retief, Standerton, Teks (Trichardt, Evander, Kinross and Secunda), Delmas, Eloff, Argent, White River, Machadodorp and Middelburg held a mass patrol with the SAPS to improve visibility and combat crime.
White River
- AfriForum’s White River neighbourhood watch completed a project at the town’s police station. The project ensures a safer drop-off zone for pickup vans, thereby preventing prisoners from escaping.
Nelspruit
- AfriForum’s Cairn-Burnside farm watch launched a visibility action at the Cairn entrance.
- AfriForum’s Nelspruit branch proceeded with a successful do-it-yourself project at the Pro Gratia School.
Bethal
- Bethal’s AfriForum branch completed a successful do-it-yourself project by filling up potholes in Kleijnhans and Malherbe Streets, as well as in Tsibitso Sibanoyni Street. Up until now, 500 bags of tar have already been used to repair streets.
- Bethal’s AfriForum branch cut grass across the old Nestlé building and the local police station.
- Bethal’s AfriForum branch appointed a contractor to empty dustbins in the central business district.
- AfriForum’s Bethal branch held an annual general meeting for business owners to get their input with regard to the projects that were tackled.
Machadodorp
- Machadodorp’s AfriForum neighbourhood watch offered assistance after a farm attack.
Piet Retief
- AfriForum’s Piet Retief branch launched a petition regarding the abuse of liquor in public parks.
Standerton
- AfriForum’s Standerton branch offered assistance to security companies.
- AfriForum’s Standerton branch removed illegal fishnets in the Vaal River.
Teks (Trichardt, Evander, Kinross and Secunda)
- AfriForum’s Teks branch assisted in cleaning green strips and cutting the grass.
- AfriForum’s Teks neighbourhood watch assisted at accident scenes by means of regulating the traffic.
Delmas
- AfriForum’s Delmas branch assisted old-age homes by replacing their geysers.
Witbank
- AfriForum’s Witbank branch completed phase 2 of their road safety project in front of schools and concluded the project with an amount of more than R65 000.
CENTRAL REGION
NORTH WEST
- The AfriForum branches in the Tswaing area placed pressure on Eskom to keep the electricity on in the province.
Vryburg
- The AfriForum branch in Vryburg saw off tree branches that were hanging in front of stop signs in cooperation with youth members.
- The AfriForum branch in Vryburg supplied the Naledi Local Municipality with spares to repair a vehicle to subsequently be able to repair water and sewage leakages.
- The AfriForum branch in Vryburg directed a letter to the provincial heads of the SAPS in North West regarding a shortage of vehicles for the K9 unit. Only two vehicles were made available for this purpose.
- The AfriForum neighbourhood watch in Vryburg held a large community meeting where the new direction that the neighbourhood watch will take was discussed, as well as the emergency plan.
Christiana
- The AfriForum neighbourhood watch in Christiana held a shooting competition.
Hertzogville
- The AfriForum branch in Hertzogville placed pressure on Eskom to turn on the power of water pumps, while they also exercised pressure on the Tokologo Local Municipality to restore the power supply to be able to pump water.
Delareyville
- The AfriForum neighbourhood watch in Delareyville held an all-night patrol with the police and security services.
Biesiesvlei
- The AfriForum neighbourhood watch in Biesiesvlei drove away alleged attackers thanks to their high visibility and later made the arrests in Lichtenburg.
Schweizer-Reneke
- The AfriForum branch in Schweizer-Reneke launched a winter project where blankets, clothes and food were collected and handed over to needy children.
FREE STATE
Bethlehem
- The AfriForum branch in Bethlehem presented IDP training to the community. The training involved that the community understands how the budget of the municipality works and what input the community can deliver on this. The community thus now has better knowledge on how municipal budgets look.
Kroonstad
- AfriForum held a branch establishment meeting in Kroonstad. After a huge demand from the community, an AfriForum branch was established in Kroonstad. 85 members of the community attended the meeting.
Harrismith
- AfriForum’s Harrismith branch kicked off the month by repairing potholes. This project was largely aimed at Warden Street, the town’s main street, seeing as potholes there presented a serious safety risk. The branch used 2 750 kg of tar to fill up 105 potholes. The branch will proceed to tackle similar projects to subsequently improve the general condition of the roads.
Bultfontein
- AfriForum’s Bultfontein branch and neighbourhood watch assisted with the arrest of two suspects. These suspects were arrested in connection with housebreakings. A community member informed the neighbourhood watch on the emergency group that a house’s alarm went off, after which the neighbourhood watch was summoned to the scene and the suspects were arrested within minutes. The suspects were cornered thanks to excellent cooperation between the community, the neighbourhood watch and the police. AfriForum’s Bultfontein branch and neighbourhood watch will continue to ensure community safety.
Welkom
- AfriForum’s Welkom branch and Sand River neighbourhood watch received training. The training comprised various safety modules and the community was involved in large numbers.
KWAZULU-NATAL
- The AfriForum branches in KwaZulu-Natal held various proactive patrols in their respective communities to increase visibility, among which in Margate, Hluhluwe, Pongola, Vryheid and Paulpietersburg.
Newcastle
- AfriForum’s Newcastle branch mobilised the community against high property valuations.
Vryheid
- AfriForum’s Vryheid branch held patrols during the marathon to ensure the safety of participants.
- AfriForum’s Vryheid branch assisted in extinguishing a burning building.
- AfriForum’s Vryheid branch painted various road crossings to promote road safety.
- AfriForum’s Vryheid branch manned a stand at the Easter Market Day.
- AfriForum’s Vryheid branch held a safety introduction evening at the community centre.
Margate
- The emergency borehole of AfriForum’s Margate branch supplied water to the community during water shortages.
- The youth wing of AfriForum’s Margate branch cleaned up beaches.
- AfriForum’s Margate branch offered assistance in its community during the recent floods.
- AfriForum’s Margate branch raised objections against high water tariffs.
Hluhluwe
- AfriForum’s Hluhluwe branch executed various operations in cooperation with the SAPS.
Richards Bay
- AfriForum’s Richards Bay branch assisted with the arrest of an alleged hammer murderer.
Pongola
- AfriForum’s Pongola branch achieved various successes regarding the tracing of stolen vehicles.
Paulpietersburg
- AfriForum’s Paulpietersburg branch placed pressure on the municipality to stop illegal land grabbers.
- AfriForum’s Paulpietersburg branch offered training in basic first-aid to more than 50 community members.
SOUTHERN REGION
NORTHERN CAPE
Kuruman
- The youth wing of AfriForum’s Kuruman branch cleaned up the Eye of Kuruman and also performed the necessary repairs in the town.
Kathu
- AfriForum’s Kathu branch handed out Easter eggs during Easter to promote awareness.
Upington
- AfriForum’s Upington branch presented an anti-bullying campaign at various schools in the town.
Vaalharts
- AfriForum’s Vaalharts branch assisted in ensuring that road signs are erected outside Hartswater thanks to the necessary pressure being placed on the provincial offices.
- AfriForum’s Vaalharts branch assisted in sharpening the post office’s neatness and safety.
EASTERN CAPE
Patensie
- The AfriForum branch was asked by the farmers’ organisation in the Gamtoos Valley to perform a comprehensive safety survey and to come forth with a well considered and workable plan. The chairperson of the safety committee accepted the challenge and plans are progressing well.
Aliwal North
- AfriForum’s Aliwal North branch donated 50 bags of Super 18 fodder mixture to farmers in Aberdeen.
- AfriForum’s Aliwal North branch held a meeting with the management of the Walter Sisulu Local Municipality and also submitted the budget.
WESTERN CAPE
- AfriForum’s branches in the Western Cape in the month of April attended a workshop about municipal property valuations, as well as a workshop that deals with the participation of branches in the reviewing process of the integrated development plan (IDP) of their respective municipalities. This workshop was presented by Frik Mulder, an independent consultant and expert in local government affairs, in Bellville. During the workshop, Mulder gave more background regarding the process used by appraisers to adjust the municipal valuation of properties. He also trained the branch managements to formulate and refine detrimental commentary on it.
Helderberg basin
- The youth wing of AfriForum’s Helderberg basin branch visited the children of Ons Plek centre in the Strand. Maresa Visser, Chairperson of the youth wing of AfriForum’s Helderberg basin branch, decided to reach out to the needy children of this centre, which is being administered by Solidarity Helping Hand.
Oudtshoorn
- AfriForum’s Oudtshoorn branch held succession talks with the local municipal management concerning the current crisis where infighting is threatening to paralyse municipal functioning. Furthermore, continuous pressure from AfriForum led to the announcement that the landfill site is at last going to be fenced.
Hessequa
- AfriForum’s Hessequa branch held a safety and information meeting in Albertinia’s town hall. The community was informed about the safety situation countrywide and why residents can expect that safety in the Southern Cape will in future come under pressure. They were furthermore assured that AfriForum has the necessary expertise and willpower at its disposal to strengthen a community on every terrain in a sustainable manner.