A response to hit-pieces on AfriForum published by News24.
News24 is recruiting support for AfriForum
On the one hand, News24 is strengthening AfriForum. Their vendetta against AfriForum and their unfair attacks are causing many more people to side with AfriForum against News24. This consequently expands AfriForum’s support base and reminds hundreds of thousands of members of the public why strong, independent civil society organisations such as AfriForum are needed. For that, we can thank News24.
On the other hand, they further undermine News24’s already damaged credibility. When journalists exchange their role as objective reporters for activism, it is not AfriForum that ultimately suffers the greatest damage, but the trust that the public should have in the media.
Apologies to AfriForum
The eagerness of a group of anti-AfriForum activists at News24 and some other media institutions to attack AfriForum repeatedly leads to them making mistakes.
As a result, News24 and other media institutions have had to apologise numerous times for publishing falsehoods about AfriForum. It is a devastating blow for any media institution’s credibility when journalists are caught red-handed deliberately publishing falsehoods in support of an ideological agenda.
The Contrast Between AfriForum and News24 on Transparency
The media and civil society organisations play an important watchdog role in holding the government accountable and promoting transparency.
It is therefore important that both News24 and AfriForum themselves set the example by acting transparently.
However, the facts show a stark contrast. While AfriForum plays open cards about its income, expenses, and achievements, News24 refuses to answer important questions about its own finances.
When the Department of Social Development notified AfriForum that News24 had requested access to AfriForum’s financial statements, AfriForum decided not to oppose the request. On the contrary, AfriForum viewed it as an opportunity to show the public how the organisation spends its money and to put hundreds of successes that have already been achieved under the magnifying glass.
AfriForum is proud that the organisation has received an unqualified audit annually throughout its 20-year existence.
News24’s actions stand in sharp contrast to this. News24 refused to answer any of the questions posed by AfriForum about its financial statements and remuneration structures. Among other things, the publication refused to explain how its parent company’s donation of R8 million to the African National Congress (ANC) was justified, despite the ANC’s extensive record of corruption and mismanagement.
News24 also refused to explain why, since 2021, the company of which it forms part no longer published its financial statements. Unlike AfriForum, News24 was not willing to disclose its financial statements.
The question is simple: why the secrecy?
Old news
What makes this whole episode even more remarkable is that the questions News24 is now trying to raise are not new questions at all.
The same allegations and insinuations have already been raised by Juluis Malema in the past. AfriForum has already responded to them in detail. News24’s investigating activists apparently missed it and therefore I am giving the facts again:
This is how AfriForum spends R22.6 million monthly
News24 and Malema’s allegations gives me the ideal opportunity to indicate on behalf of AfriForum how grateful and proud we are of the successes and results that AfriForum achieves with the income generated from membership fees. These successes are by the grace of God, the prudent use of resources, hard work by both AfriForum staff and 10 000 volunteers, as well as support of approximately 300 000 members. We want the world to know this. Here are some of the facts:
- Unqualified (“clean”) audits
AfriForum has received unqualified audit opinions every year since its establishment 20 years ago. In contrast, just over 10% of municipalities in the country receive unqualified audit opinions.
As a non-profit organisation with no shareholders, AfriForum uses every cent the organisation receives to achieve its clearly defined objectives. AfriForum must submit annual reports and financial statements to the South African Revenue Service and the Department of Social Development so that they can ensure that AfriForum complies with the legal requirements for a public welfare organisation. These reports have been accepted without question for the past two decades.
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AfriForum must build faster and more to counter accelerating state deterioration
Public services and municipalities are deteriorating at an increasing rate, while crime remains out of control. Within this context, AfriForum and the Solidarity Movement’s calling is to build a better present and future for our communities and our descendants by creating do-it-yourself solutions.
This places increasing pressure on organisations like AfriForum to do more, respond faster, and take on greater responsibilities. To manage this pressure that accelerated operations place on AfriForum’s resources, AfriForum focuses its spending on two main objectives, namely as a community-builder, but also as a watchdog.
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AfriForum as community-builder and watchdog
The first core objective is to build strong, self-reliant communities that can serve as a buffer against state deterioration. The second is our watchdog role against corruption, abuse of power, maladministration, the decline of the criminal justice system, and attacks on language and cultural rights.
That is why I am proud that over the past six years AfriForum has been able to spend R1.6 billion on self-do projects as countermeasures against ANC maladministration. Approximately 70% of this (or R1.15 billion) has been used for local communities, security initiatives, and self-do actions. The remaining 30% has been spent on our watchdog function, legal proceedings, and campaigns.
AfriForum’s current income, however significant it may be, is unfortunately still not sufficient to counteract the extent of state deterioration. The organisation must increasingly deliver state services, but without receiving tax money for it. The urgency for intervention is constantly increasing as more municipalities, state institutions, and public services collapse. That is why AfriForum is constantly working to expand its capacity so that even more communities can be supported.
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Where does AfriForum’s income come from?
AfriForum is grateful for the overwhelming support that the organisation receives. The monthly donations from AfriForum’s approximately 300 000-member base contribute to 95% of AfriForum’s average total income of approximately R22.6 million per month. This shows that smaller contributions by thousands of ordinary people make it possible to build a better present and future on a larger scale.
Feedback we receive from many AfriForum members is that they feel that they get more value from their voluntary contribution to AfriForum than what they do from the taxes they are compelled to pay to a corrupt and incompetent state.
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What is AfriForum’s income spent on?
AfriForum is active in a myriad of areas. Some of the most prominent include:
1. Safety
AfriForum supports 177 neighbourhood and farm watches across the country.
These include:
- two control rooms that operate 24 hours a day – one in Centurion and one in Bloemfontein;
- emergency response coordination;
- free panic buttons for AfriForum members;
- a nationwide camera network for monitoring and response;
- 33 training modules;
- more than 10 000 trained volunteers;
- 34 drones;
- drone training for approximately 100 pilots who regularly support the South African Police Service during operations;
- nationwide neighbourhood watch patrols;
- the purchase of 1 497 bulletproof vests;
- response vehicles;
- 8 904 two-way radios;
- the maintenance and expansion of a communication network with 71 repeaters;
- numerous other safety tools;
- safety audits at schools; and
- personnel who travel nationwide to coordinate neighbourhood watch networks.
This work produces results every day. However, the success stories are too numerous to list in full here. Please visit AfriForum’s website for more information.
2. Community development
AfriForum has 165 branches that are active in more than 100 towns. Where municipalities fail, communities step in.
AfriForum has already appointed 45 permanent staff members in local community teams to support maintenance, repairs, and service delivery where municipalities fail to do their work. This initiative is further expanded as service delivery deteriorates.
Our community teams support branches that carry out day-to-day work that local authorities are supposed to do. This includes, among other things:
- Garbage disposal projects;
- recycling initiatives;
- the repair of potholes and roads;
- painting road markings and school crossings;
- lawn mowing; and
- emergency water points.
To be able to carry out this work, AfriForum has 23 vehicles and tractors, 49 trailers and 151 bush cutters.
Since the beginning of 2026 alone:
- 450 self-do projects have been completed;
- 116 tonnes of tar have been used;
- more than 81 tonnes of recyclable material have been processed;
- more than 1 000 litres of road paint have been used;
- about 5 000 hectares of grass have been cut; and
- 135 emergency water points have been installed and are maintained in towns and cities where water crises occur frequently.
In addition, AfriForum’s garbage disposal projects have already removed hundreds of tonnes of waste from communities.
3. Court cases and private prosecution
Court cases cost millions of rands. They are expensive – but necessary. AfriForum is currently involved in approximately 80 active court cases, while AfriForum’s private prosecution unit under the leadership of Advocate Gerrie Nel has already taken on more than 320 cases.
The victories are extensive. Recent examples include:
- The disclosure of Eskom contracts;
- action against the National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s secrecy about Eskom tariff increases;
- numerous successful municipal cases;
- the dissolution of the Ngwathe Municipal Council;
- challenges against unfair tariffs in the Cape Town and Tshwane metros;
- legal action to protect Afrikaans schools;
- support for the family of Senzo Meyiwa; and
- successful prosecutions of rapists and violent criminals.
4. Cultural and Traditional Communities
AfriForum’s work extends far beyond urban areas. The organisation works with numerous traditional and cultural communities, including the Barolong Boo Seleka, the AmaBhele kaJamangile, and Orania. Approximately 2.5% of AfriForum’s income is spent on this, while 67.5% of AfriForum’s income is spent in other cities and towns across the country.
5. Cultural Projects
AfriForum is not only creating safety and infrastructure; we are also building the future of our cultural community. That is why we support projects in schools such as the “Dink of Sink” unprepared debate competition for learners and students, “Besigheidsbytjies” for young entrepreneurs, as well as our anti-bullying campaign that focuses on schools.
AfriForumTV also plays an important role in the promotion of Afrikaans by making free content, children’s programmes, documentaries, and entertainment available to a growing audience at www.afriforumtv.co.za.
Institutions of the Solidarity Movement also build together at full speed
AfriForum does not stand alone and is proudly part of the Solidarity Movement, which includes many other institutions that are helping to build a future in various areas. Some examples of the building work that is being done include:
- An Afrikaans university that is currently building an even larger campus;
- an Afrikaans vocational training institution;
- the Wolkskool and Gimnasium Pretoria private school;
- the management of Afrikaner heritage sites such as the Voortrekker Monument;
- work and employment networks;
- a nationwide network of social workers;
- a study assistance fund that has already paid out more than R500 million in study aid; and
- an Afrikaans media institution.
AfriForum’s mandate and reporting to members
AfriForum works continuously with a mandate from its members. A vote in an election gives a political party a mandate for five years. In contrast, AfriForum’s mandate is renewed monthly by members who make a voluntary contribution each month.
AfriForum also continuously reports to its members on its activities through, among other things, the organisation’s members’ magazine, on its website, in media statements, and on social media.
Two more myths: director remuneration and salaries
The doubt-sowers from the ranks of the anti-AfriForum activists are also trying to cast doubt on AfriForum’s remuneration structures.
The reality is that AfriForum directors who are employed by institutions of the Solidarity Movement do not receive any director remuneration. The only director fees that are paid are to independent, non-executive board members, at approximately R4 000 for each of the four meetings held per year.
AfriForum’s job level grading is determined according to the Paterson grading system by independent experts from outside AfriForum. Remuneration is set at approximately the 25th percentile of market-related scales. This means that AfriForum’s remuneration scales are lower than those paid in many private sector companies. AfriForum’s personnel costs have been equivalent to an average of approximately 36% of AfriForum’s income in recent years. This is significantly lower than the general norm of between 50% and 80%, which is often the case in non-profit service-providing organisations.
A message to anti-AfriForum activists
AfriForum will continue to build. We do not need the permission of the suspects to do so. We will not be deterred by lies or propaganda; on the contrary, every attack motivates us to work harder, build faster and become stronger.
AfriForum continues full steam ahead to help build a better present and future for our families, our communities, our descendants and all who want to see a safer, better functioning society in South Africa.
And that is exactly what AfriForum does with its members’ hard-earned money.
By Kallie Kriel, CEO of AfriForum.
