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CONCISE SUBMISSION ON THE PREVENTION AND COMBATING OF HATE CRIMES AND HATE SPEECH BILL

2017-01-31

FW de Klerk Foundation (the Foundation) is a non-profit organisation dedicated to upholding the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (the Constitution). To this end, the Foundation seeks to promote the Constitution and the values, rights and principles enshrined in the Constitution; to monitor developments including legislation and policy that may affect the Constitution or those values, rights and principles; to inform people and organisations of their constitutional rights and to assist them in claiming their rights. The Foundation does so in the interest of everyone in South Africa.

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STATEMENT: FW DE KLERK RECEIVES THE PRAESES ELIT AWARD FROM TRINITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN

2017-01-19

FWDeKlerk TrinityFormer President FW de Klerk was presented with the prestigious Praeses Elit award from the Law Society of Trinity College, Dublin on 18 January 2017.  The award was established by Mary Robinson, the former President of Ireland, to honour people who have advanced legal discourse through excellence of advocacy and commitment to causes.

In his acceptance speech, De Klerk discussed the acceptance of non-racialism and non-discrimination as one of the most important advances in social and political attitudes during the 20th century. 

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SPEECH: EQUALITY, FREEDOM AND NON-DISCRIMINATION

2017-01-18

It is a great honour to accept the Praeses Elit award from so ancient and august an institution as Trinity College.  It is also a pleasure to address the Trinity College Law Society.  As you may know, I myself am a lawyer.  In 1972 I almost became a law professor – but chose instead to go into politics.  The rest, as they say, is history.

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SPEECH: THE NEED FOR PHILANTHROPRENEURS TO SUPPORT PEACE-MAKING AS THE PREREQUISITE FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH AND SOCIAL WELL-BEING

2017-01-16

It is a great pleasure for me to address the 2017 Philanthropreneurship Forum with its theme of ‘Generation Impact’.   

One of the most positive aspects of free market economies has been the willingness of its most successful entrepreneurs to dedicate their time and fortunes to the improvement of the lives of people throughout the world. They are deploying the skills that brought them success in business to tackling the developmental and human crises that continue to afflict a third of the world’s population.

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ARTICLE: WILL “REVOLUTIONARY MORALITY” HAMPER CORRUPTION AND STATE CAPTURE?

2017-01-12

theuns eloffIt is finally clear after the NEC of the ANC’s 8 January statement (which was, as usual, delivered by the current president) that there will be a new ANC president on 8 January, 2018. It is also clear that the groups within the NEC had to reach a compromise on the declaration, but that the group concerned about Zuma’s leadership and negative example was slightly on the winning side.

A closer reading of the entire written speech (which was not delivered in full, due to the weather conditions) shows that this is a carefully balanced statement covering a wide range of issues. But it also covers issues that Zuma (or his supporters) would not have included. One of these is the assurance that the nuclear programme will only be implemented at a pace and cost that the country can afford – the first time that something like this has been said publicly. The other issue is corruption (and with that factionalism, with money as undertone). Two other recent statements also referred to this.

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INVITATION: ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2017

2017-01-12

ct conf finalThe FW de Klerk Foundation – in partnership with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation – invites you to attend our Annual Conference. Our theme for 2017 is: “The Constitution and Governance – at another Crossroads”.

The FW de Klerk Foundation annually hosts a conference on 2 February in Cape Town, to coincide with the announcement in Parliament in 1990 of the release of Nelson Mandela and other prisoners and the unbanning of several organisations. Each year the conference tackles a topical theme, with input from a diverse range of influential speakers. Previous speakers include former President Kgalema Motlanthe, Justice Albie Sachs, Dr Mathews Phosa, Ms Rhoda Kadalie, Prof Frans Viljoen, Mr Sipho Pityana, Adv Jeremy Gauntlett, Mr Johann Rupert and former President FW de Klerk. 

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STATEMENT CONDEMNING RECENT TARGETING OF MOSQUES

2017-01-11

mosque optThe FW de Klerk Foundation strenuously condemns the recent targeting of mosques in the Western Cape. The attacks on the Simon’s Town and Kalk Bay Mosques are an attack on the very foundations of our constitutional democracy, as provided for in Chapter 2 of the Bill of Rights that boldly asserts that “Everyone has the right to freedom of conscience, religion, thought, belief and opinion.”

The recent defacement and attacks on mosques stands in contrast to the sentiments and views of the majority of South Africans who place great value on religious respect and religious freedom. The Foundation stands with the vast majority in expressing outrage at the attack on places of worship and reverence. These attacks must be condemned but will not deter our collective commitment to building a tolerant, respectful and open society.

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