Democracy Archives - FW de Klerk Foundation

PUBLIC LAND IS A CONSTITUTIONAL INSTRUMENT, NOT A BALANCE-SHEET ENTRY

2026-07-15

The Constitutional Court’s Tafelberg judgment confirms that well-located public land cannot be treated merely as a commercial asset when it can help reverse apartheid’s spatial legacy. Where affordable housing is built matters, because access to employment, transport, education and essential services forms part of meaningful access to adequate housing. Municipalities and provinces must therefore manage and dispose of public land transparently, with genuine public participation and proper regard for its constitutional value.

LESSONS FROM THE 2026 GTAC CONFERENCE

2026-07-14

The 2026 GTAC Public Economics Conference highlighted a central truth: South Africa’s employment crisis cannot be solved by training people for jobs that do not exist. Sustainable progress requires evidence-based policy, smarter public spending and greater support for the informal, township and rural economies where millions already earn their livelihoods. Ultimately, the Constitution demands a state that protects dignity, removes barriers to opportunity and measures success by real outcomes rather than the number of programmes funded.

FW DE KLERK FOUNDATION ON WITHHOLDING OF MUNICIPAL TRANSFERS

2026-07-13

The FW de Klerk Foundation notes National Treasury’s decision to withhold transfers to non-compliant municipalities and Parliament’s call for their urgent compliance. These developments confirm what has become crystal clear: Many municipalities across South Africa faces a deep and persistent governance crisis.

FW DE KLERK FOUNDATION SUPPORTS PARLIAMENT’S CALL FOR TRANSPARENCY AND FASTER ACTION ON SCHOOL SANITATION

2026-07-10

The FW de Klerk Foundation notes with concern Parliament’s Chairperson of the Select Committee on Education, Sciences and Creative Industries’ criticism about the Department of Basic Education’s communication on school sanitation. The Foundation shares Parliament’s concern that government must present an accurate picture of the challenges that remain. Parliament’s oversight visits to schools in the Eastern Cape, Limpopo and North West found that many learners still use unsafe toilets and attend schools without reliable water. No child should face these conditions.

MODERN VOTING IS NOT ENOUGH IF MUNICIPALITIES REMAIN OPAQUE

2026-07-09

South Africa is modernising the voting process through online registration, mobile tools and accessible election information. But after voters elect municipal councils, many still struggle to access clear, reliable information about service delivery, budgets, complaints and audit findings. This article argues that the 2026 local government elections must be about more than voting: Municipalities must open up, report back and account.

A VISIT TO THE CAPE TOWN SOCIETY OF THE BLIND

2026-07-06

The CTSB is one of a few selected non-governmental organisations that received financial support from the FW de Klerk Foundation in recognition of the excellent work they are doing and the valuable contribution that they make towards fulfilling the constitutional rights of vulnerable groups and persons with disabilities. The funds dispersed in 2026 to these organisations were raised through the 2025 Nedbank SA Charity Golf Day, a yearly event of which President De Klerk is a Life Patron.

A VISIT TO LADLES OF LOVE

2026-07-06

This year, Ladles of Love is one of a few selected non-governmental organisations that received financial support from the FW de Klerk Foundation in recognition of the excellent work they are doing and the valuable contribution that they make towards fulfilling the constitutional rights of vulnerable groups, such as children. The funds for these organisations were raised through the 2025 Nedbank SA Charity Golf Day, a yearly event of which President De Klerk is a Life Patron

THE YOUTH HAVE REGISTERED. NOW GIVE THEM A REASON TO VOTE

2026-07-03

Young South Africans responded strongly to the first voter-registration weekend, with people aged 16 to 29 accounting for 80% of all new registrations. But registration does not automatically translate into trust or turnout, particularly when young citizens face severe unemployment, declining services and limited confidence in local government. Political parties must now earn their votes through credible candidates, measurable ward-level commitments and transparent accountability.

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.

View Archived Content

PUBLIC LAND IS A CONSTITUTIONAL INSTRUMENT, NOT A BALANCE-SHEET ENTRY

LESSONS FROM THE 2026 GTAC CONFERENCE

FW DE KLERK FOUNDATION ON WITHHOLDING OF MUNICIPAL TRANSFERS

FW DE KLERK FOUNDATION SUPPORTS PARLIAMENT’S CALL FOR TRANSPARENCY AND FASTER ACTION ON SCHOOL SANITATION

MODERN VOTING IS NOT ENOUGH IF MUNICIPALITIES REMAIN OPAQUE

A VISIT TO THE CAPE TOWN SOCIETY OF THE BLIND

A VISIT TO LADLES OF LOVE

THE YOUTH HAVE REGISTERED. NOW GIVE THEM A REASON TO VOTE

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

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