The challenge of the new Electoral Act by the Independent Candidate Association of South Africa (ICA), which will be heard in the Constitutional Court next week, illustrates some of the great strengths and dismal weaknesses of our democratic system.
As we continue to commemorate Women’s Month and the ongoing journey towards gender equality, South Africa is making great strides through two transformative legislative initiatives: the Divorce Act Amendment Bill and the Draft Marriages Act.
On 11 August 2023, after serving just over an hour in the Estcourt Prison, former president Jacob Zuma was granted a “special remission” and walked out of prison a free man thanks to the transparent intervention of President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The FW de Klerk Foundation strongly condemns the intimidation of people, the damage of property and the general violence associated with the current taxi strike in the Western Cape, led by the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco). The Foundation urges all parties involved to resolve the dispute in a constructive manner, abstain from any further acts of violence and respect the Rule of Law.
According to the Global Gender Gap Report 2023, South Africa stood unchanged from its 20th position in the world in terms of gender equality. The report noted that South Africa had “closed more than 70% of the overall gender gap”, but that it would “take 102 years to close the gender gap”.
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.
Saturday 29 July was the 19th anniversary of the Constitutional Court’s judgement in Minister of Finance vs Van Heerden. It is a significant date because it marks a crucial point in the erosion of the foundational value of non-racialism and the unravelling of South Africa’s historic national accord.
On 26 May 2023, the Western Cape government introduced the Western Cape Provincial Powers Bill, which seeks to grant provincial and local authorities more autonomous political power. The Bill aims to empower capable provincial and local governments to address issues where the national government has failed to deliver services to Western Cape citizens.
On Wednesday 19 July, President Ramaphosa signed the South African Sign Language Act into law, a welcome step “to promote the rights of persons who are deaf and hard of hearing”.
