CONSTITUTIONAL COMMENTARY AND EVENTS
ARTICLES AND STATEMENTS
ARTICLE: EVENTUALLY WE WILL HAVE TO TALK TO EACH OTHER… BUT HOW?
South Africans are shocked by scenes playing out of late, particularly on historically Afrikaans campuses. These incidents are part of a process that began at the end of 2015 with #Rhodesmustfall. Shortly afterwards it was #Feesmustfall, with similar origins. Then Open Stellenbosch followed, where racial and anti-Afrikaans sentiments were more visible, and then ReformPuk. At the start of 2016, all of this deteriorated into undisguised racism and xenophobia, with slogans of “F … whites” and even “Kill all the whites” appearing on walls and T-shirts. When art was burned at UCT, students shouted: “It is whiteness burning!”. And last week it culminated at UP with #Afrikaansmustfall and violence and physical attacks and counter-attacks.
STATEMENT: ADV JOHAN KRUGER
The FW de Klerk Foundation is sad to announce that Adv Johan Kruger, the Director of the Centre for Constitutional Rights, will be leaving the Centre at the end of February. Adv Kruger will be taking up a senior position with the United Nations in Nairobi.
We would like to wish Adv Kruger every success with his future career and are sure that he will make a very positive contribution in his new position.
ARTICLE: INTERNATIONAL MOTHER LANGUAGE DAY
International Mother Language Day is held worldwide on 21 February to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. Observed since 2008, the date of 21 February corresponds to the day in 1952 when students in what is today Bangladesh who were demonstrating for the recognition of Bangla as one of the two national languages of East Pakistan, were shot dead by police.
PODCASTS
SUBMISSIONS
SPEECHES
EVENTS
SPEECH: THE STORIES OF SOUTH AFRICA
It is a pleasure to talk about South African history in a country with such a long and distinguished history – and at a school whose alumni have contributed so greatly to Britain and to the world.
It is, of course, impossible to understand the past 40 years in South Africa without understanding the preceding 400 years. Britain played a major role in the evolution of that history – as it did in the histories of so many countries throughout the world.
ARTICLE: GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AND THE PRESIDENT’S PROMISES: IS THE STATE REALLY SAYING – ENOUGH IS ENOUGH?
Following the recent harrowing reports of the violent murder and rape of women that sent new shock waves through the country, tens of thousands marched to Parliament on 5 September to demand action and justice.
The President, criticised for his inaction during the week of protest, finally addressed the nation on the recent brutal rapes and murders on the eve of 5 September. In a heartfelt speech, the President acknowledged that South Africa is in great mourning and pain. He stressed that gender-based violence (GBV) requires a multi-sectoral approach, and has to be faced head-on, as a matter of great urgency.
ARTICLE: A COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVE: INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES AND ANCESTRAL LAND
International Day of the World’s Indigenous People was observed on 9 August 2019. This day commemorated the inaugural session of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations in 1982. It importantly also serves to recognise Indigenous communities’ rights to self-determination and rights to traditional lands, territories, and resources.
The United Nations (UN) estimates there are a total of 370 million Indigenous peoples across 90 countries in the world. 1.6 million Indigenous peoples live in Canada – approximately 4.9% of the national population – according to the state’s 2016 census. The Canadian Constitution recognises Aboriginal peoples as including First Nations, Métis, and Inuit groups. “First Nations” itself is a broad category, which includes the Anishinaabe, the Haudenosaunee, the Cree and several other Nations in terms of the Constitution.
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