CONSTITUTIONAL COMMENTARY AND EVENTS
ARTICLES AND STATEMENTS
THE FW DE KLERK FOUNDATION’S “SOUTH AFRICA FIRST!” PETITION CALLS FOR GOVERNMENT LOYAL TO CONSTITUTION, SETS OUT “COMMON GROUND” KEY PRIORITIES
The FW de Klerk Foundation’s “South Africa First!” petition calls for the new government (which is still to be formed) to consist of political parties loyal to the Constitution.
THE FW DE KLERK FOUNDATION CELEBRATES ITS 25TH ANNIVERSARY
It is with a sense of great achievement that the FW de Klerk Foundation celebrates the 25th anniversary of its establishment on 6 June 1999.
UNITY, STABILITY, PEACE AND PROGRESS ARE NOW OF CRITICAL IMPORTANCE FOR SOUTH AFRICA
The Executive Director of the FW de Klerk Foundation welcomes the ANC’s NEC’s consideration of establishing a Government of National Unity.
PODCASTS
SUBMISSIONS
ARTICLE: FIVE TRENDS TO UNDERSTAND AND MANAGE 2020
At the start of a new year, we all reflect on the year ahead, what we want to do, what we are excited about, and what we are afraid of. What about the country – politics, the economy and our social life? It is impossible to make predictions, but one can describe certain trends, which are accompanied by certain events and their possible consequences.
Broadly, there are five trends that emerged during 2019 that will significantly impact the political and socio-economic landscape in 2020 – and which can help one to understand and cope with the year.
The first is a growing trend of centralisation and state control (read ANC control) of various aspects of South African society. There are currently four pieces of draft legislation (most of which were recently published by the ANC-controlled Parliament before the December holidays) that have one thing in common: greater and/ or absolute control over important national issues, which do not necessarily need State control or that should not be controlled because it is in the private domain according to constitutional requirements.
ARTICLE: INTERNATIONAL ANTI-CORRUPTION DAY: 9 DECEMBER
On 31 October 2003, the United Nations General Assembly decided to declare 9 December as International Anti-Corruption Day. Its role would be “to raise awareness of corruption and of the role of the UN Convention against Corruption” that came into force in 2005.
Article 6 of the Convention required States Party to ensure the existence of “a body or bodies to prevent corruption”. Such bodies would be granted the necessary independence to enable them to carry out their functions effectively and free from any undue influence. They would also be provided with the “necessary material resources and specialised staff, as well as the training that such staff may require to carry out their functions.”
ARTICLE: EWC OR ECONOMIC RECOVERY?
The Ad Hoc Committee to Initiate and Introduce Legislation Amending Section 25 of the Constitution convened a “constitutional dialogue” in Cape Town on 6 November 2019 to which it invited members of the public and civil society organisations – including the FW de Klerk Foundation’s Centre for Constitutional Rights (CFCR).
The Ad Hoc Committee was appointed by Parliament following a resolution by the National Assembly on 6 December 2018, “to initiate and introduce legislation amending section 25 of the Constitution”. The Ad Hoc Committee was tasked with making “explicit that which is implicit in the Constitution” regarding expropriation without compensation (EWC) and was required to finalise its work by 31 March 2020.
SPEECHES
SPEECH: 2 SEPTEMBER 1997, PRINCIPLES OF FORGIVENESS AND RECONCILIATION
SPEECH: 2 SEPTEMBER 1997, PRINCIPLES OF FORGIVENESS AND RECONCILIATION This great cathedral is a most fitting venue for the consideration of questions relating to forgiveness and
EVENTS
THE FW DE KLERK FOUNDATION CONGRATULATES PRESIDENT RAMAPHOSA ON HIS INAUGURATION, WISHES HIM WELL FOR ACHIEVING GNU’S BASIC MINIMUM PROGRAMME OF PRIORITIES
The FW de Klerk Foundation congratulates President Cyril Ramaphosa on his inauguration as the President of South Africa today.
THE FW DE KLERK FOUNDATION WELCOMES THE GNU, ELECTION OF PRESIDENT RAMAPHOSA
The FW de Klerk Foundation welcomes Parliament’s election of Cyril Ramaphosa as the President of South Africa today.
INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES AND SOUTH AFRICA’S 2024 GENERAL ELECTIONS
South Africa’s 2024 General Elections have been marked as one of the most vital and controversial elections since the 1994 election that ushered in South Africa’s new dawn of democracy and freedom. Not only was the election hotly contested, but it was the first to feature independent candidates.
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