CONSTITUTIONAL COMMENTARY AND EVENTS
ARTICLES AND STATEMENTS
INTRODUCING THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT REPORT CARD 2026
The Local Government Report Card 2026 provides an independent assessment of 50 municipalities across all nine provinces, measuring performance against five pillars of constitutional local government. The findings reveal a sharply uneven picture, with strong institutional leadership and sound financial management consistently linked to better service delivery and public accountability. By presenting clear evidence of what works, what fails and where improvement is possible, the Report Card equips residents, councillors and policymakers to demand practical, measurable change.
MUNICIPAL FAILURE IS NOT INEVITABLE AND THIS REPORT PROVES IT
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.
FW DE KLERK FOUNDATION RELEASES THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT REPORT CARD 2026
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.
PODCASTS
THE CONSTITUTION@WORK PRESENTS: PROPERTY RIGHTS FOR ALL SOUTH AFRICANS
10 July 2023 @ 12:00 am –
In this special edition of the Constitution@Work, we discuss the Foundation’s upcoming conference in Johannesburg this Friday which will focus on the extension and defence of property rights for ALL South Africans.
THE CONSTITUTION@WORK PRESENTS: EMPLOYMENT EQUITY
28 June 2023 @ 12:00 am –
In this episode of The Constitution@Work, we discuss South Africa’s latest Employment Equity Regulations and how they measure up against the Constitution with Michael Bagraim, renowned labour law expert and a Member of Parliament’s Employment and Labour Committee…
THE CONSTITUTION@WORK PRESENTS: SOUTH AFRICA’S FOREIGN POLICY
5 May 2023 @ 12:00 am –
This episode of The Constitution@Work focuses on South Africa’s foreign policy and the impact it may have on international relations. Steven Gruzd, Head of the African Governance and Diplomacy Programme at the South African Institute of International Affairs, joins FW de Klerk Foundation Chairperson Dave Steward, Manager of Constitutional Programmes….
SUBMISSIONS
SUBMISSION ON THE CONSTITUTION NINETEENTH AMENDMENT BILL
The FW de Klerk Foundation’s submission regarding the Constitution Nineteenth Amendment Bill.
SUBMISSION ON THE ELECTORAL REFORM CONSULTATION PANEL
The FW de Klerk Foundation’s submission regarding the electoral reform consultation panel.
THE FW DE KLERK FOUNDATION COMMENTS ON GENERAL MUNICIPAL BILL, OPPOSES EXTENDING TIME TO RECTIFY IRREGULAR APPOINTMENTS
Daniela Ellerbeck, the Foundation’s Constitutional Rights Manager, reviews the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs’ General Municipal Bill.
SPEECHES
THE ROLE OF BUSINESS AND CIVIL SOCIETY IN THE NEW SOUTH AFRICA
SPEECH BY FORMER PRESIDENT F W DE KLERK TO THE INSTITUTE OF DIRECTORS, JOHANNESBURG, 6 JUNE 2006 THE ROLE OF BUSINESS AND CIVIL SOCIETY
DEALING WITH CULTURAL, ETHNIC AND LINGUISTIC DIVERSITY – THE CHALLENGE OF THE NEW MILLENNIUM
SPEECH BY FORMER PRESIDENT F W DE KLERK TO THE DISRAELIAN UNION LONDON, 22 MAY 2006 DEALING WITH DIVERSITY It is a
THE TIES BETWEEN SOUTH AFRICA AND THE NETHERLANDS – PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
SPEECH BY FORMER PRESIDENT F W DE KLERK ON THE OCCASION OF THE 125TH ANIVERSARY OF THE NEDERLANDS ZUID-AFRKA VERENIGING VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT AMSTERDAM, 20 MAY
EVENTS
FW DE KLERK FOUNDATION PROUD TO PARTICIPATE IN MONEY SMART WEEK SOUTH AFRICA 2026
The FW de Klerk Foundation is participating in Money Smart Week South Africa 2026 through a practical constitutional money guide, focused articles, short videos and in-person engagement. Its guide helps young South Africans learn, earn, protect and grow their money while understanding how public institutions shape financial opportunity. The initiative connects financial education with constitutional citizenship, individual responsibility and accountable governance.
FW DE KLERK FOUNDATION CALLS FOR URGENT TRANSPARENCY ON ELECTORAL REFORM PROCESS
The FW de Klerk Foundation has called on Parliament to provide urgent clarity on how it intends to process the Electoral Reform Consultation Panel (ERCP) report, warning that ongoing uncertainty could undermine meaningful electoral reform before the 2029 elections. The Foundation argues that transparency, accountability and public participation are essential to ensure that reforms aimed at strengthening voter accountability and South Africa’s constitutional democracy are considered and implemented within a realistic timeframe.
SUBMISSION URGENT REQUEST FOR CONFIRMATION OF PARLIAMENT’S TIMELINES, ROADMAP AND INSTITUTIONAL PRIORITIES FOR ERCP REPORT – FOLLOW-UP
Follow-up on The FW de Klerk Foundation’s urgent request for confirmation of Parliament’s timelines, roadmap and institutional priorities for ERCP Report
CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES
- Equality
- Non-racialism
- Gender Rights
- The Constitution
- The Rule of Law
- Multiparty Democracy
- Personal Rights
- Cultural, Religious and Language Rights
- Freedom of Expression and Political Rights
- Social and Economic Rights
- Property Rights
- Education
- Access To The Courts, Information And Fair Adminstration