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MUNICIPAL FAILURE IS NOT INEVITABLE AND THIS REPORT PROVES IT

2026-08-13

The FW de Klerk Foundation’s Local Government Report Card 2026 argues that municipal failure is not inevitable, but the result of identifiable institutional weaknesses that can be measured and addressed. Assessing 50 municipalities against 100 objective tests, the report highlights where local government is improving, where it is failing and what distinguishes high-performing municipalities from those in decline. It offers practical, evidence-based recommendations to strengthen constitutional governance, improve service delivery and make municipal recovery measurable.

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FW DE KLERK FOUNDATION RELEASES THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT REPORT CARD 2026

2026-08-04

The FW de Klerk Foundation’s Local Government Report Card 2026 provides an independent, non-partisan assessment of municipal performance and constitutional accountability across South Africa. Using 100 published tests across five key pillars, it evaluates 50 municipalities and highlights the institutional factors that drive success or failure in local government. The report offers evidence-based insights into the state of municipal governance and demonstrates that effective, constitutional local government is achievable.

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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.

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THE STATE CANNOT FIX MUNICIPALITIES WHILE REFUSING TO PAY THEM

2026-06-29

Provincial departments owed municipalities R14,9 billion by December 2025, placing further pressure on already fragile local government finances. This persistent non-payment undermines service delivery, violates the principles of cooperative government and forces municipalities to finance provincial operations through unpaid accounts. National Treasury should enforce accountability and establish a targeted mechanism to deduct verified municipal debts from provincial allocations.

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THE COST OF COLLAPSE: HOW MUNICIPAL DYSFUNCTION IS DISMANTLING THE VAAL TRIANGLE’S ECONOMY

2026-06-23

Spending two days in this municipality exposes the stark reality of its collapse. The former heartbeat of the South African economy has been reduced to a dilapidated landscape scarred by massive, neglected potholes and failing public utilities. Residents are left to navigate a complete infrastructural mess, a reality made all the more frustrating by the nearly R700 million that was spent on municipal employee overtime between 2019 and 2025, despite consistently worsening service delivery.

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FW DE KLERK FOUNDATION RELEASES DOWNLOADABLE PDF VERSION OF “WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY IS IT ANYWAY?” – THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTION GUIDE 2026

2026-06-22

The FW de Klerk Foundation and its partners have released the free downloadable PDF version of Whose Responsibility Is It Anyway? The Local Government Election Guide 2026. Written in clear and accessible language, the guide explains local government, voter registration, municipal accountability and the importance of participating in the 2026 local elections. It is the first instalment of a three-part civic-education series designed to help South Africans move from registration to informed participation and continued accountability.

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FW DE KLERK FOUNDATION RELEASES “WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY IS IT ANYWAY?” – A NEW DIGITAL GUIDE TO THE 2026 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS

2026-06-15

The FW de Klerk Foundation and its partners have launched Whose Responsibility Is It Anyway?, a new digital guide designed to help South Africans, particularly young voters, navigate the 2026 Local Government Elections. The guide explains the role of local government, the rights and responsibilities of citizens, and the practical steps required to register and vote. As the first in a three-part series, it aims to strengthen constitutional literacy, democratic participation and accountability beyond election day.

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LETTER FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT ON FW DE KLERK FOUNDATION PARLIAMENTARY DISRUPTION RESEARCH

2026-06-08

The FW de Klerk Foundation welcomes the Presidency’s response to its research on the financial and constitutional cost of parliamentary disruptions. The Foundation’s analysis shows that disrupted sittings can cost taxpayers thousands of rand per minute while weakening Parliament’s duty to hold the Executive accountable. Following the Presidency’s encouragement, the Foundation will now engage Parliament directly on stronger accountability, consequence management and respect for South Africa’s constitutional institutions.

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