The FW de Klerk Foundation calls for peaceful local government elections and condemns violence and intimidation against candidates, campaigners and voters. Every citizen must be able to exercise their constitutional political rights freely and without fear. Political leaders, law enforcement and voters all have a role to play in protecting free, fair and peaceful elections.
The FW de Klerk Foundation marks International Day of Political Prisoners by reaffirming the fundamental right to peaceful political expression. South Africa’s own history underscores the importance of protecting people from arbitrary detention, political repression and punishment for dissent. The Foundation calls for independent courts, impartial law enforcement and consistent advocacy for those imprisoned solely for peacefully exercising their rights.
The FW de Klerk Foundation welcomes the IEC’s correction of Regulation 28F after concerns about an unconsulted amendment to electoral regulations. The correction restores the version published for public comment and affirms the importance of transparency, public participation and accountable electoral governance.
On Tuesday, 20 October2026, a delegation of the FW de Klerk Foundation comprising of Deputy Chairperson Christina Teichmann and Legacy Manager Brenda Steyn visited the SA Children’s Home in Gardens, Cape Town, where they met with Nina Crawford and Dico van Eeden to learn more about the home’s history and mission.
The FW de Klerk Foundation has raised concerns about a change introduced into the final Municipal Electoral Regulations that was not included in the draft published for public comment. The Foundation argues that the addition of a sworn-statement requirement for election objections raises important questions about meaningful public participation, electoral transparency, and compliance with Constitutional Court principles governing post-consultation amendments.
Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s 2026 State of the Province Address highlighted Gauteng’s education achievements, including strong matric results and plans for new schools, AI initiatives and improved admissions systems. However, a closer examination of the Gauteng Budget, Department of Education Annual Report and Auditor-General findings reveals ongoing challenges such as overcrowded classrooms, infrastructure backlogs, admissions delays and governance concerns. This analysis explores whether the province’s education commitments are specific enough to ensure transparency, accountability and measurable progress.
The FW de Klerk Foundation raises concern over the Bronkhorstspruit water crisis, warning that contaminated drinking water threatens constitutional rights, public health and human dignity. The Foundation calls for transparency, accountability and urgent reforms to address systemic weaknesses in South Africa’s water governance and infrastructure management.
Cultural rights have meaning when they are realised in practice. The FW de Klerk Foundation’s CRL Report Card 2026 examines key developments affecting cultural, religious and linguistic communities, from Khoi and San recognition to cultural participation and customary practices.
South Africa’s Constitution strongly protects freedom of conscience, religion, thought, belief and opinion. Yet recent debates surrounding the CRL Rights Commission’s proposed self-regulatory framework for the religious sector have raised important questions about the relationship between accountability, religious autonomy and State involvement. This article examines the constitutional protections afforded to religious communities, the controversy surrounding the Section 22 process, and why safeguarding freedom of belief remains essential to South Africa’s democracy, diversity and human rights culture.
