On behalf of the FW de Klerk Foundation, I would like to personally congratulate our national team and join my fellow South Africans in celebrating the Springboks’ glorious win at the 2023 Rugby World Cup at the Stade de France last Saturday.
The Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) recently introduced a transformation policy aimed at addressing historical inequalities within South Africa and the financial sector. While the GEPF’s intentions are undoubtedly noble, it is crucial to scrutinise the policy for potential legal conflicts and practicality.
Section 3 of the Constitution – ranking just after the rule of law and Constitutional supremacy – recognises the right of all citizens to citizenship. Its placement indicates its importance not only for equal entitlement to rights, privileges and benefits of citizenship, but also for the realisation of a “united and democratic South Africa.”
On Friday 29 September, the FW de Klerk Foundation submitted its views on the Independent Police Investigative Directorate Amendment Bill to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police.
On 30 July 2023, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) Amendment Bill was introduced in the National Assembly, and is currently being considered by Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police. Despite being labelled as unconstitutional by legal experts, including the Office of the Chief State Law Advisor, the Bill seeks to grant unprecedented power to Police Minister Bheki Cele over the IPID. The Bill has sparked intense debate and legal scrutiny in South Africa, with concern expressed over the potential implications it carries for the nation’s policing sector.
The FW de Klerk Foundation has learned with the greatest sadness of the passing of Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi this morning – shortly after the celebration of his 95th birthday.
On 29 August 2023, Kholeka Gcaleka, who is the Acting Public Protector (APP), was nominated as the candidate to succeed the disgraced Busisiwe Mkhwebane as Public Protector (PP). Mkhwebane’s predecessor, Advocate Thuli Madonsela, demonstrated how the office of Public Protector could play a crucial role in holding to account state institutions that were suspected of improper conduct. Indeed, her fearless exposure of state capture under President Jacob Zuma played a pivotal role in forcing his resignation. Sadly, Mkhwebane did not continue this proud tradition and instead mired the office in unseemly controversy after controversy, racking up an unprecedented number of judicial rebukes in the process.
The FW de Klerk Foundation is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Raymond Ackerman, founder of Pick ‘n Pay. The Foundation would like to express its heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and colleagues, especially to his beloved wife Wendy.
The FW de Klerk Foundation is pleased to have Liam Erasmus, a Capetonian and Stellenbosch University law student, on board as an online intern.
