On 31 January 2017, the FW de Klerk Foundation, together with other advocates of freedom of expression, made a written submission to the Department of Justice on the Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill (Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill). The Foundation used the opportunity to highlight that bolstering, consolidating and empowering existing laws and institutions is a sounder starting point than promulgating new laws with harsh consequences.

In brief, the Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill aims to criminalise the offences of hate speech and hate crimes. In terms of this proposed Bill, it is possible for a person to be imprisoned for three years following their first conviction for the offence of hate speech, with ten years imprisonment for subsequent offences.

Former President FW de Klerk was presented with the prestigious Praeses Elit award from the Law Society of Trinity College, Dublin on 18 January 2017.  The award was established by Mary Robinson, the former President of Ireland, to honour people who have advanced legal discourse through excellence of advocacy and commitment to causes.

In his acceptance speech, De Klerk discussed the acceptance of non-racialism and non-discrimination as one of the most important advances in social and political attitudes during the 20th century. 

The FW de Klerk Foundation strenuously condemns the recent targeting of mosques in the Western Cape. The attacks on the Simon’s Town and Kalk Bay Mosques are an attack on the very foundations of our constitutional democracy, as provided for in Chapter 2 of the Bill of Rights that boldly asserts that “Everyone has the right to freedom of conscience, religion, thought, belief and opinion.”

The recent defacement and attacks on mosques stands in contrast to the sentiments and views of the majority of South Africans who place great value on religious respect and religious freedom. The Foundation stands with the vast majority in expressing outrage at the attack on places of worship and reverence. These attacks must be condemned but will not deter our collective commitment to building a tolerant, respectful and open society.

The FW de Klerk Foundation unreservedly condemns the assault on Mr Victor Rethabile Mlotshwa on a farm near Komati Power Station in Middleburg, Mpumalanga.

The dehumanising and humiliating assault on Mr Mlotshwa by two men, has justifiably met with public outrage and the FW de Klerk Foundation supports action that recommits all South Africans to our founding provisions of the Constitution to value human dignity, non-racialism and the Rule of Law.

The Foundation furthermore commends the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for swift action taken against the alleged perpetrators who have been charged with assault and intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

On behalf of the FW de Klerk Foundation, we salute a brave warrior of freedom and democracy, George Bizos, on his 88th birthday. 

May the year be filled with blessings and good health for you and may you continue to be our lodestar in trying times.

According to media reports and transcripts Julius Malema told his supporters outside the Newcastle Magistrate’s Court yesterday that:

“We, the rightful owners, our peace was disturbed by white man’s arrival here…They killed our people during land dispossession…They found peaceful Africans here. They killed them! They slaughtered them, like animals! We are not calling for the slaughter of white people, at least for now”.

“We will not chase white people into the sea. We will give them portion…That is where you stay. And you can’t own bigger than us. You are a visitor. Visitors must behave. They must know the land belongs to the people of South Africa, the indigenous people of South Africa… No white person is a rightful owner of the land here in South Africa and in the whole of the African continent. This is our continent; it belongs to us”.

Zohra Dawood was appointed as Director of the FW de Klerk Foundation’s Centre for Unity in Diversity as of 17 October 2016.

Ms Dawood has degrees in law and a Master’s degree in economic history.  She worked for a decade as chief researcher for a land rights’ organisation. After 1994, she worked with the Department of Land Affairs and Agriculture, where she was involved in policy formulation and implementation, including negotiations and settlement of land claims. Ms Dawood has been an adviser to cabinet members and was an adviser to the Presidency of Nelson Mandela. She also worked for the Department of Defence in drafting its legislation and policies on land and environment. In 1999, she joined the Soros Network’s Open Society Foundations (OSF) and was appointed Executive Director. In addition to her responsibilities for South Africa and African programmes for the Open Society Foundations, she was appointed to lead OSF’s efforts in Indonesia as Regional Director, where she headed up an OSF entity that seeks to institutionalise democracy and an open society in the largest Muslim country in the world.