FW de Klerk Foundation

We are delighted to have had the honour to 'hold space' for the FW de Klerk Foundation and its partners at Workshop17 Hyde Park Corner as they embark on a significant journey of community impact with young people in South Africa 🇿🇦 Look out for more information as they execute or reach out to Ismail Joosub for possible partnership or collaboration 🦋 🌻 🌞 #CommunityImpact #CollaborativeEffort #RestorativeConstitutionalism

The FW de Klerk Foundation made a written submission to the Electoral Reform Consultation Panel in response to the Panel’s invitation for comments on whether South Africa’s present electoral system should be reformed. “The Foundation pointed out to the Panel that the current electoral system fails to meet all of the Constitution’s requirements. Specifically, it fails to ensure accountability, responsiveness and openness,” says Daniela Ellerbeck, an attorney and the FW de Klerk Foundation’s Constitutional Rights Programmes Manager. “It also fails to meet four out of the Panel’s six guiding principles for an electoral system. For this reason, changing how South Africa elects those in our national and provincial parliaments is both justified and necessary,” explained Ellerbeck. Besides meeting the Constitution’s requirements, the Foundation submitted that the new electoral system must also help to prevent state capture from ever reoccurring and must cause elected officials to be more accountable and responsive to the public. It must also build public trust and increase voter turnout. Lastly, it must also create a level playing field between independent candidates and political parties. “For these reasons the Foundation supports a mixed-member proportional system with 250 seats (of Parliament’s 400) being from single-member constituencies. This will allow voters to have a direct link to their constituency’s candidates running for a seat in Parliament. Simultaneously, voters will be able to recall underperforming elected officials. This will increase accountability and responsiveness, resulting in the public’s trust being restored in the democratic system, which, in turn, will increase voter turnout,” states Ellerbeck. The Foundation believes such an electoral system will also result in overall proportional representation, while allowing for independent candidates to compete on a level playing field with political parties. Learn more about the options currently facing South Africa by visiting bit.ly/4fnj8CC and reading our article. #fwdeklerkfoundation #elections #southafrica #electoralreform #constitution

The relationship between South Africa and Taiwan has a complicated history, marked by a shift from warm ties to growing diplomatic distance. The recent decision by the South African government to move Taiwan’s de facto embassy, the Taipei Liaison Office, out of Pretoria has raised questions regarding South Africa’s diplomatic alignment and the domestic and constitutional challenges that South Africa could face should relations sour further. Ezra Mendel, Intern at the FW de Klerk Foundation, explores this decision and the subsequent questions about South Africa’s diplomatic alignment in an article. Visit bit.ly/3O6n52G to read the article. #fwdeklerkfoundation #internationalrelations #diplomacy #southafrica #taiwan

Ismail Joosub and Ezra Mendel, members of the FW de Klerk Foundation’s Constitutional Advancement Programme, are joined by Prof Haroon Bhorat (Professor of Economics at the University of Cape Town) and Pieter Scribante (Senior Economist at Oxford Economics Africa) to discuss South Africa’s economy and the intersections it has with the legal, economic and social, through the lens of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Visit bit.ly/3CkUML0 to watch the podcast. #fwdeklerkfoundation #economy #southafrica #southafricaspodcast #constitution #billofrights

In collaboration with the KAS South Africa and the Centre for Public Witness, Christo Owen van der Rheede addressed community leaders from Swellendam and Kannaland municipalities on the guidance our Constitution and the Bill of Rights provides in terms of human, economic, social, cultural, spiritual and political development. Van der Rheede also discussed the outcomes of the National Dialogue in terms of reconciliation, establishment of local networks and an action plan to help realise short, medium and long term objectives. #fwdeklerkfoundation #konradadenauerstiftung #centreforpublicwitness #constitution #nationaldialogue #billofrights

On 10 November 2024, the FW de Klerk Foundation launched its Centre for the Constitutional Transformation of South Africa (CCTSA). The Centre provides an audio-visual presentation of how the constitutional transformation of South Africa was achieved. Premier Alan Winde, Premier of the Western Cape, presented the keynote address on the topic "Our constitutional democracy, a reality for everyone!" In his address Premier Winde stated, "It’s our Constitution that is the guard rail of our democracy and that is really what we are recognising in this space and in this process… I hope that, not only will this Centre be a place where visitors and tourists will come, but also [a place where] constitutionalists will come. People will come and talk about our Constitution…" Visit bit.ly/3Z6hn6W to watch his address and bit.ly/4fOwlEs to view the gallery of images from the launch. #centrefortheconstitutionaltransformationofsouthafrica #constitutionaltransformation #southafrica #southafricanhistory #constitution

We had a very successful third FW de Klerk Memorial Lecture, which took place on 11 November 2024 at The Vineyard Hotel in Cape Town. It was a pleasure and privilege for the Foundation to have Ambassador Barbara Barrett, US Secretary of the Air Force (2019-2021) and US Ambassador to Finland (2008-2009), as the keynote speaker at the event. In her lecture, Ambassador Barrett shared her personal insights into FW de Klerk's rare combination of wisdom and courage, his uniquely transformative “second act” (after his tenure in the South African Government) and FW de Klerk's insatiable scientific curiosity. We would like to thank all the attendees who joined us at the event, as well as those who watched the livestream online. Thank you for helping us to commemorate the legacy of a truly remarkable leader and man. #fwdeklerkfoundation #fwdeklerk #memoriallecture #ambassadorbarrett #lecture #southafricanhistory

I had the immense honour of attending the 3rd FW de Klerk Memorial Lecture. President De Klerk passed away on 11 November 2021 at the 11th hour—an unforgettable timing, marking both the moment the guns fell silent in WWI and the passing of the leader who played a pivotal role in ending South Africa’s own racial conflict. Coincidence or historical poetry? At the event, I was privileged to meet several notable figures, including Mrs. Elita de Klerk, South Africa’s former second lady and Chairperson of the FW de Klerk Foundation, as well as Mrs. Christina Teichmann, the Foundation’s Vice Chairperson. An unexpected honour was being seated beside South Africa’s Public Protector, Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka, someone whose work I deeply respect. The lecture itself was delivered by Ambassador Barbara Barrett, whose impressive career spans serving as the U.S. Secretary of the Air Force, a diplomat, attorney, businesswoman, pilot, and even a trained astronaut. Following her lecture, I had the privilege of engaging with her personally, discussing her role as a board member of the Global Leadership Foundation established by President De Klerk. Today was, indeed, a memorable day—one filled with reflection, gratitude, and incredible conversations that I won’t soon forget. #FWdeKlerk #MemorialLecture #GlobalLeadership #SouthAfrica #Leadership #Inspiration #History

Christo van der Rheede, the Executive Director of the FW de Klerk Foundation, was recently a guest speaker at the AHi small business conference in Oudtshoorn. He shared his thoughts on the role of small businesses in the National Dialogue and what their focus should be. "Do not create bureaucracies, create access - access to blended finance and conducive circumstances to operate small businesses sustainably!" said van der Rheede. #fwdeklerkfoundation #smallbusiness #nationaldialogue #finance

Yesterday, 10 November 2024, the FW de Klerk Foundation launched its Centre for the Constitutional Transformation of South Africa (CCTSA). The Centre provides an audio-visual presentation of how the constitutional transformation of South Africa was achieved. The Centre's goals include to: - preserve, acquire, research and disseminate information relating to South Africa’s constitutional transformation; - commemorate South Africa’s negotiated transformation from white minority rule to non-racial constitutional democracy; - promote, advance and propagate the Constitution and the values on which it is based – particularly among young South Africans; - provide a forum for the discussion of constitutional issues; and to - share South Africa’s experience in conflict resolution and constitution-making. Follow our account to learn more about the launch and the Centre. #centrefortheconstitutionaltransformationofsouthafrica #constitutionaltransformation #southafrica #southafricanhistory #constitution