Rule of Law Archives - Page 2 of 10 - FW de Klerk Foundation

WHEN PARLIAMENT IS DISRUPTED, TAXPAYERS PAY

2026-05-20

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.

ELECTORAL COUNTDOWN AS JOHANNESBURG HANGS BY A THREAD

2026-05-15

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.

FW DE KLERK FOUNDATION: SOUTH AFRICA NEEDS DIGITAL ACCESS LAW THAT MAKES SENSE

2026-05-15

The FW de Klerk Foundation notes ICASA’s recent statement that, under the current Electronic Communications Act of 2005, full recognition of equity equivalent investment programmes in telecommunications would require legislative amendment. That position, coupled with Minister Solly Malatsi’s stated intention to pursue such amendments, reveals a deeper problem than a single regulatory dispute. It reveals a legal and policy disharmony that South Africa can no longer afford. As the country moves toward the 4 November 2026 local government elections, digital access is no longer peripheral. It bears directly on service delivery, public participation, education, local accountability and economic inclusion.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT RESET MUST BRING THE CONSTITUTION HOME

2026-05-11

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.

FW DE KLERK FOUNDATION EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER RISING XENOPHOBIC MOBILISATION

2026-05-10

The FW de Klerk Foundation has expressed concern over the growing escalation of xenophobic mobilisation and anti-immigrant intimidation in parts of South Africa. While acknowledging legitimate concerns around undocumented migration and border management, the Foundation stresses that immigration enforcement must remain lawful, constitutional and state-led. The Foundation warns that vigilantism, collective punishment and hate-driven exclusion threaten human dignity, social cohesion and the rule of law.

DID THE RECENT CONCOURT JUDGMENT RENDER THE SAHRC TOOTHLESS?

2026-04-29

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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WHEN PARLIAMENT IS DISRUPTED, TAXPAYERS PAY

ELECTORAL COUNTDOWN AS JOHANNESBURG HANGS BY A THREAD

FW DE KLERK FOUNDATION: SOUTH AFRICA NEEDS DIGITAL ACCESS LAW THAT MAKES SENSE

LOCAL GOVERNMENT RESET MUST BRING THE CONSTITUTION HOME

DID THE RECENT CONCOURT JUDGMENT RENDER THE SAHRC TOOTHLESS?

THE COST OF PRESIDENTIAL INDECISION

THE COST OF PRESIDENTIAL INDECISION

THE WATER CRISIS IS DRAINING SOUTH AFRICA’S ECONOMY AND EMPTYING CITIZENS’ POCKETS

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