The FW de Klerk Foundation strongly supports The Foundations Initiative because we believe that we South Africans really need to talk to one another about the challenges that confront our society. We would like to recapture the spirit of inclusivity, of listening, debating and compromising that characterised our great national constitutional dialogue during the early 90s. Who better to begin this process than the Foundations established by our founding fathers and mothers?

The FW de Klerk Foundation would like to express its deep concern over the robbery that occurred at the offices of the Helen Suzman Foundation (HSF) on Sunday, 20 March 2016.

According to media reports, two well-dressed men and a woman broke into the HSF’s offices after threatening a security guard with a firearm. The robbers stole 11 computers, a printer and documents belonging to the HSF. 

Accordingly, there is every indication that the motive for the crime was to obtain information – rather than simply to steal office equipment.

The constitutional democracy that we South Africans established 22 years ago after so many years of division and conflict is experiencing a serious crisis.

President Zuma and his faction within the ANC are threatening the future of our democracy by seizing control of key state institutions primarily for the promotion of their own personal and political agendas. These institutions include the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the Hawks and various branches of the security establishment. They are using these institutions to prosecute and intimidate opponents – outside and inside the ANC – who have had the courage to oppose and expose their unconstitutional activities.