CONSTITUTIONAL COMMENTARY AND EVENTS
ARTICLES AND STATEMENTS
CHRISTO VAN DER RHEEDE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT THE FW DE KLERK FOUNDATION SPEAKING ENGAGEMENT AT THE REMGRO FOUNDATION’S ANNUAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
Christo van der Rheede, Executive Director at the FW de Klerk Foundation was invited by the Remgro Foundation to speak at their annual leadership conference. His topic focused on education, the key to a better future.
FW DE KLERK FOUNDATION CONFERENCE CALLS FOR PRACTICAL REFORMS TO TURN CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS INTO REALITY
The FW de Klerk Foundation today hosted a conference on achieving successful municipal service delivery, bringing together leaders from government and civil society in local government.
THE 2026 CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS CONFERENCE PHOTO GALLERY
The FW de Klerk Foundation, in partnership with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, hosted the Constitutional Rights Conference in Rosebank, Johannesburg on the 29th of July 2026. The core focus was on achieving successful municipal service delivery, bringing together leaders from government and civil society in local government.
PODCASTS
THE CONSTITUTION@WORK PRESENTS: THE HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT CARD TOP 10 THREATS
16 March 2023 @ 12:00 am –
In this episode of The Constitution@Work, Tyla Dallas FW de Klerk Foundation Manager of Constitutional Programmes is joined by Dave Steward FW de Klerk Foundation Chairperson and the Foundation’s team of interns – Wilmore Tendai Chisiiwa, Ismail Joosub and Rosa Sommer – to discuss its latest annual Human Rights Report Card for 2022 which will be released on Human Rights Day…
THE CONSTITUTION@WORK PRESENTS: DEFENDING THE CONSTITUTION
30 January 2023 @ 12:00 pm –
This episode of The Constitution@Work focuses on the upcoming FW de Klerk Foundation annual conference on Thursday, 2 February which will explore the important role that journalists, Chapter Nine Institutions, NGOs and the Courts have played – and will continue to play- in ensuring that South Africa remains a constitutional democracy….
THE CONSTITUTION@WORK PRESENTS: SPECIAL DAY OF RECONCILIATION EPISODE
14 December 2022 @ 12:00 pm –
In this special Reconciliation Day episode of The Constitution@Work, FW de Klerk Foundation Vice-Chair Elita de Klerk and Manager of Constitutional Programmes Tyla Dallas are joined by two of our previous Goodwill award recipients- Danny Diliberto, (founder of Ladles of Love) and Pieter-Dirk Uys (South African performer…
SUBMISSIONS
THE FW DE KLERK FOUNDATION COMMENTS ON COALITION BILL, URGES PUBLIC TO PARTICIPATE
The FW de Klerk Foundation welcomes the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Local Government: Municipal Structures Amendment Bill 2024.
COALITION BILL NOT PERFECT, BUT IMPORTANT TO STAY IN CONVERSATION
Daniela Ellerbeck, Constitutional Rights Programme Manager, reviews the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs’ bills that proffer solutions to address the problem of shaky municipal coalitions – the Coalition Bill and the General Bill.
SUBMISSION ON THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT: MUNICIPAL STRUCTURES AMENDMENT BILL 2024
The FW de Klerk Foundation’s submission regarding the Local Government: Municipal Structures Amendment Bill, 2024.
SPEECHES
GROOTE SCHUUR, BEINF PRESIDENT AND RETIREMENT
SPEECH BY FORMER PRESIDENT F W DE KLERK TO BENCHMARK SPORTS GROUP GROOTE SCHUUR, CAPE TOWN 5 APRIL 2006 It is
FREEDOM OF THE PRESS AFTER 11 YEARS
SPEECH BY FORMER PRESIDENT F W DE KLERK: CAPE TOWN, 1 DECEMBER 2005 FREEDOM OF THE PRESS AFTER 11 YEARS Eleven years have
RWANDA: MEMORY, RESPONSIBILITY, JUSTICE, THE FUTURE: A SOUTH AFRICAN PERSPECTIVE
SPEECH BY FORMER PRESIDENT F W DE KLERK TO THE 6TH WORLD SUMMIT OF NOBEL PEACE LAUREATES; ROME, 25 NOVEMBER 2005 RWANDA: MEMORY, RESPONSIBILITY,
EVENTS
TAX, QUALITY OF LIFE, AND THE REAL CHALLENGE FACING SOUTH AFRICA
Data from international indices—including the OECD, Eurostat, PwC, and the World Bank—demonstrate that South Africans are subjected to a double financial burden through high taxes and private service costs.
MAY THE CAPE TOWN METROPOLITAN POLICE INVESTIGATE CRIME?
The ongoing crime crisis in South Africa, and particularly in Cape Town, has led to a constructive debate about the role and powers of municipal police services. While the South African Police Service (SAPS) is increasingly struggling to combat organized crime and violence effectively, the City of Cape Town has taken steps to establish its own investigative capacity.
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.
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