CONSTITUTIONAL COMMENTARY AND EVENTS
ARTICLES AND STATEMENTS
BRIDGING PURPOSE AND EXECUTION: INSIGHTS FROM THE UFS BUSSINESS SCHOOL “BE WORTH MORE 2026″ORIENTATION
The University of the Free State (UFS) Business School officially commenced its academic cycle with its flagship virtual student engagement and orientation experience, “Be Worth More 2026”. Gathering nearly 80 postgraduate students—including ambitious professionals embarking on their MBA, PGDip, and BML studies via Microsoft Teams, the programme set a transformative tone centred on fostering a deep sense of belonging, active participation, and long-term societal impact.
PUBLIC LAND IS A CONSTITUTIONAL INSTRUMENT, NOT A BALANCE-SHEET ENTRY
The Constitutional Court’s Tafelberg judgment confirms that well-located public land cannot be treated merely as a commercial asset when it can help reverse apartheid’s spatial legacy. Where affordable housing is built matters, because access to employment, transport, education and essential services forms part of meaningful access to adequate housing. Municipalities and provinces must therefore manage and dispose of public land transparently, with genuine public participation and proper regard for its constitutional value.
LESSONS FROM THE 2026 GTAC CONFERENCE
The 2026 GTAC Public Economics Conference highlighted a central truth: South Africa’s employment crisis cannot be solved by training people for jobs that do not exist. Sustainable progress requires evidence-based policy, smarter public spending and greater support for the informal, township and rural economies where millions already earn their livelihoods. Ultimately, the Constitution demands a state that protects dignity, removes barriers to opportunity and measures success by real outcomes rather than the number of programmes funded.
PODCASTS
THE CONSTITUTION@WORK PRESENTS: BELA BILL PART 1
28 November 2022 @ 12:00 pm –
In this episode of The Constitution@Work, we discuss the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill (BELA Bill) and the impact it will have on language and cultural rights in South Africa. CEO of FEDSAS Jaco Deacon and ACDP member of Parliament’s Basic Education Committee Marie Sukers join FW de Klerk Foundation Chairperson…
THE CONSTITUTION@WORK PRESENTS: HATE SPEECH BILL PART 1
23 November 2022 @ 12:00 pm –
In this episode of the Constitution@Work, Legal Advisor to Freedom of Religion SA (FOR SA) Daniela Ellerbeck, joins FW de Klerk Foundation Chairperson Dave Steward and Manager of Constitutional Programmes Tyla Dallas for a discussion on the Prevention and Combatting of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill and the impact….
THE CONSTITUTION@WORK PRESENTS: PART 2 – IDEOLOGY BEHIND THE EXPROPRIATION BILL
7 November 2022 @ 12:00 pm –
In the latest episode of The Constitution@Work, Project Manager at the Institute of Race Relations Terence Corrigan joins FW de Klerk Foundation Chairperson Dave Steward and Manager of Constitutional Programmes Tyla Dallas for a discussion on the underlying ideology that led to the recent adoption of the much-contested Expropriation Bill…
SUBMISSIONS
SUBMISSION ON THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT: GENERAL LAWS AMENDMENT BILL 2024
The FW de Klerk Foundation’s submission regarding the General Laws Amendment Bill, 2024.
GILAB PASSED BY PARLY: A SUCCESS STORY OF THE POWER OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Yesterday Parliament passed a very much reworked version of the General Intelligence Laws Amendment Bill (‘the GILAB’) – a shining example of successful public participation.
PARLIAMENT PASSES BELA BILL
The Foundation is concerned that the BELA Bill was passed by Parliament as the Bill will infringe upon the right to education in an official language of your choice.
SPEECHES
THE GLOBAL CHALLENGE OF TERRORISM AND PERSONAL SECURITY
SPEECH BY FORMER PRESIDENT F W DE KLERK,to THE STERN STEWART INSTITUTE, ROTACH-EGERN, 23 SEPTEMBER 2005 TORONTO, 15 NOVEMBER 2005 “THE GLOBAL CHALLENGE
CALL FOR A NEW ORGANISATION TO PRESENT A COMMON FRONT IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE GOVERNMENT
SPEECH BY FORMER PRESIDENT FW DE KLERK TO THE AFRIKANERBOND 26 OCTOBER 2005 CALL FOR A NEW ORGANISATION TO PRESENT A COMMON
SOUTH AFRICA, 2005, SUCCESSES,FAILURES,CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS
OPENING STATEMENT BY F W DE KLERK IN HIS DEBATE WITH TOKYO SEXWALE CAPE TOWN, 24 OCTOBER 2005 The New South Africa can
EVENTS
SUBMISSION URGENT REQUEST FOR CONFIRMATION OF PARLIAMENT’S TIMELINES, ROADMAP AND INSTITUTIONAL PRIORITIES FOR ERCP REPORT
The FW de Klerk Foundation’s urgent request for confirmation of Parliament’s timelines, roadmap and institutional priorities for ERCP Report
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.
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