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WHEN PARLIAMENT IS DISRUPTED, TAXPAYERS PAY

When Parliament is disrupted, taxpayers pay not only for lost time, but for weakened oversight and reduced accountability. This article argues that parliamentary disorder carries a measurable public cost, using official remuneration and budget figures to estimate what each wasted minute means in rands. It concludes that robust debate must be protected, but preventable obstruction should carry consequences that reflect the real cost to citizens.

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THE FW DE KLERK FOUNDATION WELCOMES NATIONAL HEALTH ACT JUDGMENT

The FW de Klerk Foundation welcomes the Constitutional Court’s judgment yesterday declaring sections 36 to 40 of the National Health Act, 2003 are unconstitutional. The sections had required anyone establishing, or operating, a health facility or service to obtain a certificate of need proving, amongst other things, its necessity, alignment with state planning and contribution to equitable access to healthcare.

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ELECTORAL COUNTDOWN AS JOHANNESBURG HANGS BY A THREAD

Johannesburg’s growing fiscal and governance crisis has become more than a municipal problem. It is now a constitutional and economic warning about what happens when political instability, infrastructure decay and financial mismanagement begin to hollow out local government. As South Africa approaches the 4 November 2026 local government elections, the future of Johannesburg may well become a referendum on whether democratic governance can still deliver stability, accountability and basic services.

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LOCAL GOVERNMENT RESET MUST BRING THE CONSTITUTION HOME

The FW de Klerk Foundation welcomes the Reviewed Draft White Paper on Local Government and argues that South Africa’s municipal crisis requires a constitutional reset rather than isolated technical fixes. The statement highlights the importance of accountable, professional and depoliticised local government that can give practical meaning to constitutional rights through reliable service delivery and responsive governance. It further cautions that reform must strengthen local democracy, municipal autonomy and public participation while restoring trust in local government institutions.

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DID THE RECENT CONCOURT JUDGMENT RENDER THE SAHRC TOOTHLESS?

A recent Constitutional Court judgment has clarified that the South African Human Rights Commission may investigate rights violations and make recommendations, but cannot itself impose legally binding remedial action. While some may view this as weakening the Commission, the judgment instead reinforces the constitutional principle that final coercive power belongs to the courts. The ruling therefore draws an important line between protecting human rights effectively and ensuring that all public power remains subject to the rule of law.

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