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.

Former President FW de Klerk, the Chairman, Executive Director and staff of the FW de Klerk Foundation and its Centre for Constitutional Rights (CFCR) would like to extend their heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to Archbishop Desmond Tutu as he celebrates his 85th birthday on 7 October 2016.

We would like to wish the Archbishop the best of health in the year ahead, and acknowledge his valuable role as a peacemaker, as well as his contribution towards goodwill between all South Africans, and towards South Africa’s constitutional democracy.

It is with great sorrow that I have learned of the death of former President Shimon Peres. Together with Yitzhak Rabin, he was one of the great peacemakers of our time. He worked tirelessly to promote harmonious relations between Israelis and Palestinians and continued throughout his life and also in his old age to inspire new generations with his vision of reconciliation, justice and peaceful coexistence. He understood that the best guarantee for the long-term security of Israel was the promotion of justice and equity for all.

FW de Klerk