The civil rights organisation AfriForum’s active membership has just passed the quarter million milestone and currently boasts 250 054 members. The organisation’s membership stood at 237 000 members at the start of lockdown in March, which means that it recorded a net growth of 13 000 members during the lockdown.
According to Kallie Kriel, CEO of AfriForum, this strong growth – in the midst of the economic challenges that lockdown created – is an indication that Afrikaners and minorities in general are realising more and more that they must stand together in strong community institutions like AfriForum. This serves as buffer against an ANC government who are displaying even greater animosity against minorities during the COVID-19 crisis. “The fact that government, with the courts’ approval, employs race as criterium for COVID-19 support during a crisis – as well as even the President’s public obsession with race – sends a strong message to minorities that they will have to look after their own interests through strong civil institutions,” Kriel says.
Kriel points out that a quarter million members now allow AfriForum to further grow its network of more than 150 neighbourhood watches and other self-management projects in local communities. Moreover, the organisation can now undertake national and international campaigns on an even larger scale. “AfriForum’s power lies in its members, and AfriForum therefore thanks each of its members for their continued support to help ensure AfriForum’s successes.”
“AfriForum also wants to thank its volunteers, staff, board of directors, members and other role-players who, through hard work and grace from Above, played a role in growing this organisation – which was established 14 years ago with an unknown name, no members, three staff members and few resources – to a point where AfriForum is now, with more than 250 000 members, the largest civil rights organisation in Africa,” Kriel concludes.
