Africa Archives - 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.

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.

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.

WHEN ANGER FINDS THE WRONG TARGET…XENOPHOBIC PROTESTS AND THE 2026 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS

2026-06-01

South Africa’s local government elections are approaching at a time of real unemployment, service delivery and governance failures, but xenophobic mobilisation is directing public anger at the wrong target. The article argues that anti-immigrant protests undermine constitutional accountability by replacing demands for competent local government with scapegoating, fear and unlawful vigilantism. The FW de Klerk Foundation warns that South Africa’s genuine grievances must be resolved through the rule of law, democratic accountability and constitutional governance – not hostility toward vulnerable minorities.

FW DE KLERK FOUNDATION: SOUTH AFRICA NEEDS DIGITAL ACCESS LAW THAT MAKES SENSE

2026-05-15

The FW de Klerk Foundation notes ICASA’s recent statement that, under the current Electronic Communications Act of 2005, full recognition of equity equivalent investment programmes in telecommunications would require legislative amendment. That position, coupled with Minister Solly Malatsi’s stated intention to pursue such amendments, reveals a deeper problem than a single regulatory dispute. It reveals a legal and policy disharmony that South Africa can no longer afford. As the country moves toward the 4 November 2026 local government elections, digital access is no longer peripheral. It bears directly on service delivery, public participation, education, local accountability and economic inclusion.

CAN TECHNOLOGY SAVE DEMOCRACY? A LOOK INTO AI AND THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS

2026-05-10

As South Africa approaches the 2026 local government elections, the growing role of artificial intelligence presents both democratic risks and democratic opportunities. While misinformation, synthetic media and declining public trust threaten electoral integrity, technology can also strengthen civic education, improve access to verified information and reconnect young people to democratic participation. The real challenge is therefore not whether technology can save democracy, but whether it can be responsibly used to strengthen constitutional resilience, public trust and active citizenship.

SOUTH AFRICA FINALLY HAS AN AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES. NOW WHAT?

2026-04-21

South Africa’s appointment of Roelf Meyer as ambassador to the United States marks more than a routine diplomatic posting – it signals the restoration of constitutional statecraft at a time of strained bilateral relations.

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

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

ABDULLAH IBRAHIM: A JAZZ ICON OF INTERNATIONAL STATURE

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

WHEN ANGER FINDS THE WRONG TARGET…XENOPHOBIC PROTESTS AND THE 2026 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS

FW DE KLERK FOUNDATION: SOUTH AFRICA NEEDS DIGITAL ACCESS LAW THAT MAKES SENSE

CAN TECHNOLOGY SAVE DEMOCRACY? A LOOK INTO AI AND THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS

SOUTH AFRICA FINALLY HAS AN AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES. NOW WHAT?

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