Articles Archives - Page 3 of 65 - FW de Klerk Foundation

XENOPHOBIA IS NOW A TRADE POLICY PROBLEM, NOT JUST A LAW-AND-ORDER ONE

2026-07-02

Xenophobic violence is no longer only a domestic law-and-order concern; it is placing South Africa’s regional trade relationships, diplomatic credibility and continental standing at risk. With billions of dollars in trade flowing between South Africa and its neighbours, even limited disruption caused by consumer backlash, logistical delays and declining trust could carry serious economic consequences. South Africa must therefore combine lawful migration enforcement with decisive prosecutions, diplomatic engagement and firm protection of constitutional order.

THE STATE CANNOT FIX MUNICIPALITIES WHILE REFUSING TO PAY THEM

2026-06-29

Provincial departments owed municipalities R14,9 billion by December 2025, placing further pressure on already fragile local government finances. This persistent non-payment undermines service delivery, violates the principles of cooperative government and forces municipalities to finance provincial operations through unpaid accounts. National Treasury should enforce accountability and establish a targeted mechanism to deduct verified municipal debts from provincial allocations.

AUDITOR-GENERAL TSAKANI MALULEKE TABLED THE CONSOLIDATED REPORT ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUDIT OUTCOMES 2024-25 ON 24 JUNE 2026

2026-06-25

Overall State: The 2024-25 Auditor-General report reveals that local government has failed to achieve a turnaround, resulting in unreliable services and failing infrastructure.

A DEFIANCE OF OUR CONSTITUTIONAL COMPACT: THE PERIL OF XENOPHOBIC MOBILISATION

2026-06-25

The FW de Klerk Foundation views the ongoing escalation of xenophobic violence, intimidation, and the scapegoating of foreign nationals in South Africa with profound alarm. We write this to state clearly: such acts are not merely “community grievances” – they are a direct, violent, and unacceptable affront to the foundational values of our 1996 constitutional settlement.

THE COST OF COLLAPSE: HOW MUNICIPAL DYSFUNCTION IS DISMANTLING THE VAAL TRIANGLE’S ECONOMY

2026-06-23

Spending two days in this municipality exposes the stark reality of its collapse. The former heartbeat of the South African economy has been reduced to a dilapidated landscape scarred by massive, neglected potholes and failing public utilities. Residents are left to navigate a complete infrastructural mess, a reality made all the more frustrating by the nearly R700 million that was spent on municipal employee overtime between 2019 and 2025, despite consistently worsening service delivery.

THE WARD COUNCILLOR YOU’VE NEVER MET IS MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT YOUR LIFE

2026-06-19

As first appeared in Sunday World. With local election turnout declining and youth disengagement deepening, too many South Africans remain disconnected from the ward councillors and municipalities that shape their daily lives. A new civic research initiative seeks to turn citizens’ experiences into evidence that can strengthen democratic participation, service delivery and municipal accountability ahead of the 2026 local government elections.

ABDULLAH IBRAHIM: A JAZZ ICON OF INTERNATIONAL STATURE

2026-06-19

Abdullah Ibrahim’s influence extends far beyond the distinctive sounds of District Six, the townships, and the broader narrative of Africa’s struggle against injustice. Through his compositions, he endowed African jazz with symphonic depth and elevated it to the international stage. His legacy lives on in the communities where he laid the groundwork for the next generation of jazz musicians. It lives on across both local and international stages. It lives on in every musician who pays tribute to him by interpreting his music as their own.

STATE ABDICATION AND INCAPABILITY: THE CATALYST FOR VIOLENCE, CORRUPTION, AND LAWLESSNESS

2026-06-15

South Africa possesses one of the world’s most progressive constitutions and highly sophisticated policy frameworks. Yet, a catastrophic disconnect exists across every tier of governance: chronic state inaction and regulatory blindness, followed inevitably by frantic, performative, and costly reactive crisis management.

LETTER FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT ON FW DE KLERK FOUNDATION PARLIAMENTARY DISRUPTION RESEARCH

2026-06-08

The FW de Klerk Foundation welcomes the Presidency’s response to its research on the financial and constitutional cost of parliamentary disruptions. The Foundation’s analysis shows that disrupted sittings can cost taxpayers thousands of rand per minute while weakening Parliament’s duty to hold the Executive accountable. Following the Presidency’s encouragement, the Foundation will now engage Parliament directly on stronger accountability, consequence management and respect for South Africa’s constitutional institutions.

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XENOPHOBIA IS NOW A TRADE POLICY PROBLEM, NOT JUST A LAW-AND-ORDER ONE

THE STATE CANNOT FIX MUNICIPALITIES WHILE REFUSING TO PAY THEM

AUDITOR-GENERAL TSAKANI MALULEKE TABLED THE CONSOLIDATED REPORT ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUDIT OUTCOMES 2024-25 ON 24 JUNE 2026

A DEFIANCE OF OUR CONSTITUTIONAL COMPACT: THE PERIL OF XENOPHOBIC MOBILISATION

THE COST OF COLLAPSE: HOW MUNICIPAL DYSFUNCTION IS DISMANTLING THE VAAL TRIANGLE’S ECONOMY

THE WARD COUNCILLOR YOU’VE NEVER MET IS MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT YOUR LIFE

ABDULLAH IBRAHIM: A JAZZ ICON OF INTERNATIONAL STATURE

STATE ABDICATION AND INCAPABILITY: THE CATALYST FOR VIOLENCE, CORRUPTION, AND LAWLESSNESS

LETTER FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT ON FW DE KLERK FOUNDATION PARLIAMENTARY DISRUPTION RESEARCH

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