CONSTITUTIONAL COMMENTARY AND EVENTS
ARTICLES AND STATEMENTS
FW DE KLERK FOUNDATION CALLS FOR END TO “CULTURE OF IMPUNITY” IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT
The FW de Klerk Foundation urges government to end local government impunity by enforcing Auditor-General findings, strengthening accountability, stabilising coalitions, and ensuring competent, ethical councillors to protect communities’ welfare.
MONEY IS FINALLY ON THE TABLE – NOW GOVERNMENT MUST MAKE IT REACH THE TAP
South Africa’s 2026 Budget signals a significant increase in funding for water and sanitation infrastructure, but the real story lies in government’s attempt to fix the governance failures that allowed municipal systems to collapse.
FW DE KLERK FOUNDATION SUBMISSION ON THE WATER SERVICES AMENDMENT BILL
The FW de Klerk Foundation has submitted comments to Parliament on the Water Services Amendment Bill, supporting its aim to improve accountability in South Africa’s failing water sector while proposing safeguards to uphold constitutional and cooperative governance principles.
PODCASTS
SUBMISSIONS
ARTICLE: THE IDEOLOGICAL BLINDNESS TO THE ECONOMIC DAMAGE OF EXPROPRIATION WITH NIL COMPENSATION
The deadline for comments on the draft amendment bill on section 25 of the Constitution (the so-called Constitution Eighteenth Amendment Bill) is fast approaching. Numerous organisations are busy putting their comments in writing. The majority of these will oppose it, while committing themselves to the urgent need for land reform in terms of the present Constitution.
ARTICLE: IT’S STILL TOO EARLY TO SAY THAT IT’S GAME OVER FOR PRESIDENT RAMAPHOSA
In a recent article, I wrote about five trends that will characterise 2020. These five are:
- Greater centralisation and State control by the ANC government on the actions of South Africans;
- Better investigations, charges and prosecutions by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the Hawks.
- The gradual but definite erosion of government institutions’ ability to govern, manage, maintain and provide basic services;
- The ongoing infighting within the ANC and its alliance partners (and accompanying attacks on President Ramaphosa); and
- The stagnant economy (with the possibility of a downgrade lurking).
In the past week, the focus of the media and citizens has specificially been on the infighting in the ANC (no. 4 above), which was influenced and even driven by Eskom’s problems (no. 3 above).
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.
SPEECHES
EVENTS
FW DE KLERK FOUNDATION WELCOMES US-IRAN CEASEFIRE
The FW de Klerk Foundation welcomes the US-Iran ceasefire as a critical step away from escalating conflict and toward a just, durable and peaceful resolution.
A RIGHT WITHOUT QUALITY: THE ONGOING STRUGGLE FOR EDUCATION IN SOUTH AFRICA
Daniela Ellerbeck and Mpone Komako explain why the Foundation’s latest Human Rights Report Card ranks the right to education as the sixth most threatened in South Africa, highlighting the stark contrast between a record matric pass rate and a deepening early-grade reading crisis, alongside persistent infrastructure and transport gaps and widespread teacher shortages.
FW DE KLERK FOUNDATION PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE LIFE AND WORK OF STEVEN GRUZD
The FW de Klerk Foundation mourns the passing of Steven Gruzd, a leading South African international relations scholar and a principled advocate for democratic governance across Africa.
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