NORTHERN REGION
GAUTENG
- AfriForum tested the water of various towns in Gauteng South to determine the quality of drinking (blue drop status) and sewage water (green drop status) in the towns located in this region.
- Approximately 57 members of AfriForum’s neighbourhood watches in Boksburg, Brakpan, Edenvale, Kempton Park, Germiston and Springs received vehicle control point (VCP) training.
- AfriForum’s neighbourhood watches in Boksburg, Brakpan, Edenvale, Kempton Park, Germiston and Springs received training in accident scene handling.
- AfriForum sent a letter to Stevens Mokgalapa, Mayor of the Tshwane Metro, regarding the illegal recyclers living across SuperSport Park in Centurion. This follows after AfriForum members complained about the big safety risk and environmental affairs threat presented to the surrounding environment by the illegal occupiers.
- AfriForum planted ten tree wisterias at the Hoërskool Waterkloof as part of the civil rights organisation’s annual arbour month project. This was the first of a series of tree planting actions undertaken by AfriForum’s branches in Pretoria in September.
- AfriForum’s neighbourhood watches in East Moot, West Moot and Pretoria West held a visibility patrol at the Zandfontein cemetery. The neighbourhood watches also put shoulder to the wheel and started cleaning up the cemetery. Quite a number of refuse bags were filled with litter that was picked up at the cemetery.
Bronkhorstspruit
- AfriForum’s Bronkhorstspruit branch presented level 2 first-aid training in the vicinity and 12 community members completed the course. The training forms part of a training programme that was launched by AfriForum’s safety structures to further develop and strengthen its safety network.
Moreletapark
- The civil rights organisation AfriForum established a new neighbourhood watch in the Welbekend area. This neighbourhood watch forms part of the Moreletapark branch and is part of three other AfriForum neighbourhood watches that were also established in the surrounding area.
Meyerspark
- Members of AfriForum’s Meyerspark neighbourhood watch rehearsed their action plan to combat smash-and-grab incidents in the area. The training also formed part of the neighbourhood watch’s planning and preparation for the national patrol that will be taking place later this year.
Alberton
- AfriForum’s Alberton neighbourhood watch traced a hijacked vehicle in cooperation with the Katlehong North SAPS, the Alberton SAPS, the local CPF and various safety institutions.
- AfriForum’s Alberton branch supported the elderly of the Brackenhurst and Brackendowns areas in cooperation with the National Paramedical Services after these specific areas were severely burdened with water problems.
- The AfriForum branch in Alberton planted 12 trees at the park in Collins Road as part of the civil rights organisation’s arbour month project.
- AfriForum’s Alberton neighbourhood watch assisted the National Paramedical Services while they were busy regulating a fire.
Benoni
- The AfriForum branch in Benoni planted ten trees at the Laerskool M.W. de Wet as part of the civil rights organisation’s arbour month project.
Boksburg
- AfriForum’s Boksburg neighbourhood watch rendered assistance to a community member in cooperation with various safety institutions to help her find her stolen possessions and to arrest the suspects.
- The AfriForum branch in Boksburg planted five trees at the Laerskool Goudrand as part of the civil rights organisation’s arbour month project.
Edenvale
- The AfriForum branch in Edenvale planted three trees at Willowmoore High School as part of the civil rights organisation’s arbour month project.
Germiston
- After continuous pressure by AfriForum’s Germiston branch, various potholes in the town were repaired.
Kempton Park
- After continuous pressure by AfriForum’s Kempton Park branch, building material was removed from Pretoria Road.
- AfriForum’s Kempton Park branch safeguarded an open electricity box by summoning the relevant parties to the scene to replace the lock.
- AfriForum’s Kempton Park neighbourhood watch offered assistance:
- To Secros Security during a medical affair of a community member;
- To the SAPS during riots close to the Mooifontein cemetery by warding off the violent crowd from the scene;
- During two vehicle accidents;
- In cooperation with security companies during the theft of a television set and other items from the home of a community member;
- To the EMPD to repair the electricity supply to an electricity box after someone drove into it;
- During the arrest of a fugitive by tracing the cell phone signal;
- During an armed robbery by summoning the ambulance services to the scene and arranging counselling for the underaged child on the scene;
- During an incident where smoke was observed from the chassis of a vehicle on the highway and emergency services were summoned to render assistance to the driver.
Moot
- AfriForum’s Moot neighbourhood watch held a static patrol in cooperation with Rhibo where people are standing on a street corner and consuming alcohol. The patrols are aimed at discouraging those standing on the corner and consuming alcohol to set foot on the street under the influence of liquor and also to prevent a motorist from running over one of the people.
- AfriForum’s Moot branch tarred a piece of land in cooperation with Rhibo on the corner of Annie Botha Avenue and Viljoen Street. This followed after the branch recently received many complaints about people standing on this corner and consuming alcohol in the public. This action also formed part of AfriForum’s #YourTown campaign.
Rayton-Cullinan
- AfriForum’s Rayton-Cullinan branch launched a clean-up action and cleaned up the old post office building in Rayton. This followed after the branch management identified this action as part of AfriForum’s #YourTown campaign.
Waverley
- The civil rights organisation AfriForum reorganised the branch management in Waverley and elected a new management. This followed after the decision was taken that a new branch management must be elected to continue with the actions and to take the branch to new heights.
- AfriForum’s Waverley branch supplied the De Goede Hoop hostel with water for a couple of days. This followed after the residents of the hostel were left without water for quite some time after a water pipe burst.
Apies River
- AfriForum neighbourhood watches held a mass patrol in the Apies River area with the aim of combating crime. The mass patrol took place in cooperation with security companies and the community that helped to increase visibility in the area.
MPUMALANGA
- AfriForum neighbourhood watches in Mpumalanga achieved a huge success by removing more than 200 illegal structures with the help of the Red Ants and various security companies in White River. Land grabs took place in the Spioenkop area.
- AfriForum neighbourhood watches in Mpumalanga also offered assistance during land grabs in the Hendrina area.
- AfriForum’s coordinator for the Lowveld helped with the arrest of five suspects after a chase that took place over 130 km. A number of security companies and the neighbourhood watches in Eloff and Delmas also assisted.
- AfriForum branches in Mpumalanga helped plant more than 500 trees in Orania as part of the civil rights organisation’s arbour month project.
Piet Retief
- AfriForum’s Piet Retief neighbourhood watch held a mass patrol.
- AfriForum’s Piet Retief branch held clean-up actions in the town.
Standerton
- AfriForum’s Standerton neighbourhood watch rendered assistance during veldt fires in and around the town.
- AfriForum’s Standerton neighbourhood watch held a mass patrol.
Teks (Trichardt, Evander, Kinross and Secunda)
- The Teks neighbourhood watch offered assistance at accident scenes.
- AfriForum’s Teks neighbourhood watch participated in a visibility patrol in cooperation with the SAPS.
- The Teks branch performed maintenance work at the Davieshof old-age home.
- AfriForum’s Teks neighbourhood watch held a mass patrol.
- AfriForum’s Teks neighbourhood watch rendered assistance during veldt fires.
- AfriForum’s Teks neighbourhood watch offered assistance to trace stolen vehicles in the surrounding area.
- AfriForum’s Teks neighbourhood watch assisted the SAPS to bring a traffic officer to book after a case of drunken driving.
- The Teks branch kicked off the #AnchorTownRoadShow campaign.
Ermelo
- AfriForum’s Ermelo branch and the youth portfolio did some planning with role-players regarding the youth festival that will be held in town.
Witbank
- AfriForum’s Witbank branch kicked off their project to fill up potholes and to replace stop signs.
Leandra
- AfriForum’s Leandra neighbourhood watch participated in a mass patrol.
Delmas
- AfriForum’s neighbourhood watches in Delmas-Eloff and Argent participated in a mass patrol.
- The AfriForum neighbourhood watches in Delmas-Eloff and Argent rendered assistance to capture robbers outside Delmas.
White River
- The AfriForum branch in White River planted 60 trees at various schools.
- The AfriForum neighbourhood watch in White River was of assistance during land grabs in the Spioenkop area.
Nelspruit
- The AfriForum branch in Nelspruit launched yet another clean-up project in cooperation with We Care 4 Nelspruit. It will continue on a monthly basis.
Bethal
- The AfriForum branch’s dustbin project in Bethal is sustainable and 30 dustbins are serviced weekly in the CBD.
- The AfriForum branch’s waterpoint in Bethal is ready to service the community in case the town’s water supply is interrupted again.
Lydenburg
- AfriForum’s Lydenburg branch completed a do-it-yourself project and put up street name boards in the Hospitaal neighbourhood.
- The AfriForum branch in Lydenburg planted trees at the Laerskool Lydenburg.
Middelburg
- AfriForum’s Middelburg branch presented the Boer Festival and more than 300 people attended the dinner party.
CENTRAL REGION
NORTH WEST
Vryburg
- The AfriForum branch in Vryburg filled up potholes.
- The AfriForum branch in Vryburg planted two trees at the monuments in the town.
- The AfriForum branch in Vryburg cleaned up the park and concentration camp cemetery.
- The youth wing of the AfriForum branch in Vryburg held a wreath-laying ceremony on Heritage Day at the Anglo-Boer War Monument in Vryburg.
Hertzogville
- The AfriForum branch in Hertzogville planted vegetables at the school.
Christiana
- The AfriForum neighbourhood watch in Christiana elected a new management.
Schweizer-Reneke
- The AfriForum branch in Schweizer-Reneke planted five trees at the entrance to the town.
Lichtenburg
- The youth portfolio of AfriForum’s Lichtenburg branch renovated and painted the road in front of Tjokker Kleuterskool in 2nd Avenue. Learners of the CVO School helped paint curb stones, parking stripes and the four-way stop.
Hartbeespoort
- AfriForum’s Hartbeespoort branch launched a project that comprises donating basic equipment to the plot and neighbourhood watches in Ifafi-Melodie, Meerhof and Schoemansville.
- AfriForum’s Hartbeespoort branch completed the second phase of the reparation of a footwalk in Ou Wapad.
- The AfriForum branch in Hartbeespoort planted ten karee trees at the Laerskool Generaal Hendrik Schoeman as part of the civil rights organisation’s annual arbour month project.
FREE STATE
- AfriForum announced the Highlands district’s blue and green drop results. The water in all the towns in the district that participated, namely Bethlehem, Kroonstad, Reitz, Frankfort, Welkom, Winburg, Senekal, Bultfontein and Harrismith, tested clean. However, concern was in fact expressed about the sewage plants in the following towns: Bethlehem, Frankfort, Kroonstad, Reitz and Welkom.
Kroonstad
- The AfriForum branch in Kroonstad held a clean-up action in the town. The action started behind the old town hall and moved all along the R76. During the action, the branch management and members of the community picked up litter and cleaned up the streets.
Bethlehem
- The AfriForum branch in Bethlehem participated in a peaceful procession in front of the magistrate’s court in the town, where the bail application of an accused in a farm murder was heard.
- The AfriForum branch in Bethlehem planted 50 trees at the Charlotte Theron Children’s Home as part of the civil rights organisation’s annual arbour month project. According to Jp Nel, AfriForum’s Assistant Coordinator for the Highlands, the organisation is planning on planting more than 3 000 trees countrywide in 2019.
- The AfriForum branch in Bethlehem donated dogfood to the town’s SPCA to help alleviate the distress. They were in dire need of food and are dependent on donations to give enough food to the animals.
Winburg
- AfriForum’s Winburg neighbourhood watch assisted in combating and extinguishing veldt fires in the area. A vehicle overturned after the driver lost control over it.
KWAZULU-NATAL
- The AfriForum branches in KwaZulu-Natal delivered inputs during a meeting of the Provincial Rural Safety Committee.
Newcastle
- AfriForum’s Newcastle branch started planning steps against increased property tax levies as proposed by the municipality.
Vryheid
- AfriForum’s Vryheid branch held a community meeting with Prof. André Duvenhage as the guest speaker.
- AfriForum’s Vryheid branch held daily patrols to safeguard their community.
- AfriForum’s Vryheid branch’s community safety team assisted in tracing a stolen vehicle.
- AfriForum’s Vryheid branch’s community safety team helped with the arrest of suspects that had stolen items in their possession.
Margate
- AfriForum’s Margate branch’s youth wing assisted in cleaning the beaches.
- AfriForum’s Margate branch planted several trees as part of the civil rights organisation’s arbour month project.
- AfriForum’s Margate neighbourhood watch helped with the arrest of a criminal.
- AfriForum’s Margate branch’s youth wing participated in the Wesfront Vasbytmars.
Hluhluwe
- AfriForum’s Hluhluwe branch held various safety actions to safeguard their community.
Paulpietersburg
- AfriForum’s Paulpietersburg branch regularly held patrols to safeguard their community.
- AfriForum’s Paulpietersburg branch planted several trees at schools and the old-age home as part of the organisation’s arbour month project.
Utrecht
- AfriForum’s Utrecht branch held a meeting with the eMadlangeni Local Municipality.
- AfriForum’s Utrecht branch raised questions regarding irregular payments in the eMadlangeni Local Municipality.
SOUTHERN REGION
NORTHERN CAPE
Hopetown
- AfriForum’s Hopetown branch held a Drought Fund Dance in aid of the AfriForum emergency fund.
Prieska
- AfriForum’s Prieska branch arranged a bowling day on Heritage Day.
- AfriForum’s Prieska branch launched a clean-up campaign as part of Heritage Month which involved the cleaning up of the area surrounding the Voortrekkertrek Memorial in front of the church. This campaign was launched in the same week as National Clean-up Week.
Kimberley
- AfriForum’s Kimberley branch participated in the organisation’s arbour month project.
- AfriForum’s Kimberley branch transported water on behalf of the community during maintenance to the city’s water supply.
Vaalharts
- AfriForum’s Vaalharts branch ensured that a sewage leakage was repaired.
- AfriForum’s Vaalharts branch assisted with an arrest during a theft incident.
- AfriForum’s Vaalharts neighbourhood watch helped trace a missing person.
- AfriForum’s Vaalharts branch received training in legal aspects.
- AfriForum’s Vaalharts branch was of assistance in tracing stolen goods.
Williston
- AfriForum’s Williston branch held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) with Theo Boshoff as guest speaker.
- The safety chairperson of AfriForum’s Williston branch discussed the town’s safety after an elderly person was attacked. A petition of protest was also submitted at the court.
WESTERN CAPE
- AfriForum tested the water in various Western Cape towns to determine the quality of drinking (blue drop status) and sewage water (green drop status) in the towns located in this province.
Helderberg Basin
- The AfriForum branch in the Helderberg Basin planted two trees at the Hope and Light Primary School in Somerset West as part of the civil rights organisation’s annual arbour month project.
Cape Town North
- Patrollers associated with the AfriForum neighbourhood watch in Bellville, which forms part of the civil rights organisation’s Cape Town North branch structure, received training in legal aspects.
Kraaifontein
- The AfriForum branch in Kraaifontein donated 38 trees to Imagine Animal Dreams and the Kraaifontein Voortrekkers as part of the civil rights organisation’s annual arbour month project.
Malmesbury
- The AfriForum branch in Malmesbury planted four trees at the O.J. Erasmus NGK Primêre Skool in Kalbaskraal in cooperation with Big Tree Growers wholesale nursery as part of the civil rights organisation’s arbour month project. The branch decided on three wild plum trees and one white karee tree seeing as these trees are indigenous, tough and water wise.
Overstrand
- Luthanda Nosilela, Commander of the police in Hermanus, announced that crime in Hermanus declined drastically over the past five months. From 1 April to 31 August 2019 house-breakings declined by 17,9%, theft from and out of vehicles by 20% and burglaries at businesses by 54%. Nosilela attributed the decline to, among others, the excellent cooperation that exists between the SAPS and neighbourhood watches.
Robertson
- AfriForum presented the first of a series of safety training sessions to members of its newly-established Robertson neighbourhood watch. The neighbourhood watch was established in 2019.
Velddrif
- Members of AfriForum’s Velddrif branch participated in a beach clean-up project in cooperation with other organisations. The beach was cleaned up from the mouth of the Laaiplek harbour to Dwarskersbos. This beach clean-up project is an initiative of Cape Nature and Berg River Estuary Forum. The local CPF also participated in the clean-up action.
Vredendal
- The Vredendal branch planted trees at the Naasdrift Primêre Skool, Hoërskool Nuwerus, Kleinrivier Primêre Skool, Lutzville Golf Club, Hoërskool Lutzville and Trawal Primêre Skool. The branch planted trees at eight schools in the Matzikama region.
- Cooperation between AfriForum’s Nuwerus farm watch and the SAPS in Malmesbury led to the successful arrest of two Japanese citizens that presumably poach rare reptiles in Namaqualand and then export it. The sungazer is a highly endangered species and is frequently exported to the USA, Europe and Japan at huge amounts.
Worcester
- The AfriForum branch in Worcester planted four trees at the Langerug School and two trees at Sandy’s Eden Animal Welfare Organisation as part of the civil rights organisation’s annual arbour month project. The branch decided on planting white stinkwood trees seeing as these trees are indigenous, tough and grows quite fast.
SOUTHERN CAPE
Mossel Bay
- The AfriForum branch in Mossel Bay participated in the organisation’s arbour month project in September. Twelve trees were planted and the branch even involved ward councillors at this initiative. Louis Cook and his competent team have always been very assiduous to the environment and this year they once again did their part to create a sustainable, better and greener environment for their offspring.
Oudtshoorn
- AfriForum’s Oudtshoorn branch participated in the organisation’s arbour month project. Twenty trees were planted while a further 45 trees were “adopted” – this involves that every tree will be supplied with filtered sewage water during the blistering drought. Follow-up talks, including an IDP meeting, were held under the leadership of Johan Conradie, Chairperson of the branch, with the local municipality regarding continuous problems with the local municipal management.
Hessequa
- AfriForum’s Hessequa branch planted 17 trees as part of the organisation’s arbour month project. The trees were donated by Chris Scheppel, a member of the local branch management. The branch’s management member for community safety also addressed various farmers’ organisations regarding the benefits of having a farm watch as part of the AfriForum branch structure.
George
- The AfriForum branch in George also successfully participated in the organisation’s arbour month project. George’s first farm watch under the protection of AfriForum was also established. Together with the successful establishment, the first round of training was also concluded to equip the dynamic members with the knowledge to make a difference in their town.
EASTERN CAPE
Port Elizabeth
- The AfriForum branch in Port Elizabeth accomplished a fantastic breakthrough by establishing the first AfriForum neighbourhood watch in the city. Dirk Burger and his team worked hard behind the scenes to succeed and they are very excited about the difference that the neighbourhood watch will bring about in terms of the safety situation in Port Elizabeth.