CONSTITUTIONAL COMMENTARY AND EVENTS
ARTICLES AND STATEMENTS
STATEMENT: THE TSAR HAS LEFT, THE DOOR IS OPEN, PRESIDENT RAMAPHOSA
Millions of South Africans are celebrating the departure of Mr Jacob Zuma, albeit under great duress, with an initial intransigence and a final goodbye just before 23h00 on 14 February. The nation has suffered politically, economically and socially, during his corrupt, strongman and divisive time in office.
The FW de Klerk Foundation is delighted that change is on the horizon and congratulates the Acting President, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa. He has the weighty task to undo the legacies of his predecessor and set South Africa on a course of unity and renewal.
The odds were stacking up against Mr Zuma in the last few days and hours leading to his resignation, two hours short of a midnight deadline set by his colleagues in the ANC. The well-known saying, “…was he pushed, or did he jump?” comes to mind. Increasingly it is being revealed that behind-the-scenes activity indicates an ANC NEC that developed a remarkable unity on the imperative for Zuma to go. Added to this development was the possibility of interparty cooperation regarding a motion of no confidence. Perhaps this demonstrates a maturing of the democratic project in South Africa.
ARTICLE: BEYOND STATE CAPTURE AND CORRUPTION
On February 2, 1990, to the surprise of both friend and foe – and only four months into his term as president – FW de Klerk announced that he would unconditionally release Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners, and unban the ANC and other organisations. The goal was to create the circumstances within which negotiations on the future of South Africa could take place. As a result, he opened the door for a new future and the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to him (and Nelson Mandela).
The FW de Klerk Foundation was established in 1999 to promote and protect FW de Klerk’s most important legacy: the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. The Foundation has since commemorated 2 February 1990 each year by holding a national conference. The themes of these conferences are usually devoted to the most burning issues in the country.
This year’s theme was “Beyond state capture and corruption”. The intention was to move beyond the analysis of the origin and implementation of state capture and to give the audience (and the country and its people) hope for a better future. The words and actions of newly-elected ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa were cautiously welcomed. One could only wonder how it would be possible to broach such a topic if Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma had been elected as ANC president.
ARTICLE: UNITY AND RENEWAL
The governing party has reintroduced a slew of words in the political lexicon over the last few days – from transition, to constructive, to fruitful, to closure – all to describe the crisis within the ruling party.
PODCASTS
SUBMISSIONS
SPEECHES
EVENTS
ARTICLE: THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS: NOT ONLY A TEST FOR MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT – BUT ALSO FOR DEMOCRACY?
On Monday November 1 South Africans go to the polls to give their stamp of approval – or disapproval – to their municipal governments. Former
PODCAST: IEC Judgement Review Part I – Dave Steward and Adv Mark Oppenheimer
With next week’s local municipal elections around the corner South Africans are gearing up towards exercising their constitutional right to vote. Follow a recent discussion
PODCAST: South Africa’s Judiciary, the JSC & Judge John Hlophe – Dave Steward and Adv Paul Hoffman
Follow a discussion between the Foundation’s Chairman, Mr Dave Steward, and Institute for Accountability Director, Adv Paul Hoffman SC, about a number of matters concerning
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