CONSTITUTIONAL CROSSFIRE: LEGISLATIVE DEVELOPMENTS DURING 2023
2024-01-10
During 2023, Parliament considered a mix of positive legislation and legislation that falls seriously short of constitutional standards.
During 2023, Parliament considered a mix of positive legislation and legislation that falls seriously short of constitutional standards.
On 15 November 2023, Parliament’s second house of Parliament – the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) – passed the Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill despite countless submissions from various stakeholders opposing the Bill’s clear curtailment of the constitutionally-entrenched right to freedom of expression. The Bill will now go to the National Assembly for concurrence.
The FW de Klerk Foundation discusses the pro-Palestine group’s disruption of a peace prayer gathering on November 12 at Sea Point promenade was unjustified and a clear violation of the prayer group’s constitutional rights to free speech and peaceful demonstration.
On 15 September, the FW de Klerk Foundation made a written submission to the National Council of Provinces on the National Health Insurance Bill. The Foundation analysed key failures of the NHI Bill with specific reference to the constitutional principle of the Rule of Law and rationality, the feasibility of the proposed system and governance concerns, coupled with the unfettered power of the Minister of Health (“the Minister”).
On 15th September, parliaments around the world celebrate International Day of Democracy, introduced by the UN General Assembly in 2007 with the aim of actively promoting the principles of democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights.
Last Saturday, Julius Malema addressed a packed FNB stadium in Johannesburg to mark the 10th anniversary of the EFF. The scarlet-clad masses undulated to the rhythm of African music and the chanting of EFF slogans, while red and black balloons, confetti and streamers were discharged into the stadium. It was a cross between a rock concert, a soccer match and a religious revival.
On 7 June, Dave Steward, FW de Klerk Foundation Chairman, delivered a speech to Probus in Somerset West on ‘A Volatile South Africa in a Volatile World’.
The FW de Klerk Foundation was officially incorporated as a not-for-profit trust on 6 June 1999. Learn about the Foundation’s efforts thus far and its goals for the future.
The FW de Klerk Foundation is pleased to share the success of the recent inter-school debate, organised in collaboration with The National Foundations Dialogue Initiative (NFDI) and held at King David Victory Park High School on 29 May.