Cape Town
In South Africa, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom supports pioneering empirical research projects, publications and roundtable discussions that provide an alternative platform for debate and the free exchange of ideas. These activities address the social and economic challenges facing South Africa as it continues to develop. They aim to offer practical policy recommendations and solutions.Well-researched studies and recommendations strengthen public awareness of issues concerning South Africa’s political and economic development. An important part of the Foundation's work focuses on collaboration with the Democratic Alliance (DA) - South Africa's liberal voice.
News
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Why Vote?
This initiative is part of the FNF Liberal Workshop's campaign aimed at encouraging the youth to vote. According to voter registration statistics, a staggering 14 million South African youth remain unregistered as voters. The potential impact of these young voices cannot be understated; if they were to register and vote, they have the power to reshape the face of South African politics. In South Africa, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation supports pioneering empirical research projects, publications, and roundtable discussions that offer an alternative platform for debate and the free exchange of ideas.
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Why we need to take sides
The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom opens its new office in Johannesburg at a time when there is much debate about the value of that very freedom. A value, that is indispensable for the self determined development of human beings and for democracy. The list of dictatorial regimes that oppress their people remains consistently long. African countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Libya and the Central African Republic are consumed by brutal civil wars.
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State of the Nation Address 2023
When he first stepped onto the stage as president he promised a “new dawn”. On Thursday Cyril Ramaphosa will rise to address a nation in crisis with very little hope of any light and in a temporary home. The power utility, ESKOM, is on the brink of collapse, and leaderless. South Africans are in the dark on a daily basis and will enter winter with the reality of at least 8 hours of electricity shortages (load-shedding/blackouts) per day. It is promised that this will only stop in two years if all goes to plan.
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A President Under Enormous Pressure
Many believe that President Ramaphosa would be the only one who can save the party from electoral disaster, but a scathing report released in November, with just over two weeks to go to the conference, exposed Ramaphosa as potentially much less clean than the corruption-fighting leader he has thus far been. The report - compiled by an independent panel appointed by parliament and headed by a retired chief justice found that there might be grounds for impeachment.
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The dilemma of whistleblowers of corruption in Africa
“Corruption in Africa really fights, this doesn’t mean that it doesn’t fight elsewhere, but corruption in Africa fights hard,” Pusetso Morapedi of the Platform to Protect Whistleblowers in Africa. She was speaking in a panel discussion on the SABCNews programme, It’s Topical on Sunday, 6 November 2022. The show assembled a panel discussion of a dozen whistleblowers who blew the lid on corruption at state owned enterprises and the private sector.
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Cry, the beloved country – South Africa’s shambolic vaccination situation
The second wave of the Corona pandemic has hit South Africa with full force. But the government has no plan for procuring vaccines, nor for distributing them. Mass vaccination requires months of preparation, the establishment of complex control systems, and the strategic deployment of resources. None of this necessary preparation has yet taken place.
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Omicron in South Africa: a sour note
“We are deeply disappointed by the decision of several countries to prohibit travel from several Southern African countries following the identification of the Omicron variant. This is a clear and completely unjustified departure from the commitment that many of these countries made at the meeting of G20 countries in Rome last month. These restrictions are unjustified and unfairly discriminate against our country.”
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#YouthDay2022 46 Years Later!
To commemorate 46 years since the historical #SowetoUprising of 16 June 1976, FNF's Cape Town liberal workshop is to release a series of eight video profiles. The series captures the thoughts and perspectives of 46 South African YOUTH in the present day. Do they still remember, do they still care?
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Mayor Dan Plato Launches Youth Civic Education Workshops
Mayor Dan Plato launches youth civic education workshops: Future Citizens Project. The future of Cape Town lies in the hands of the thousands of young people in communities across our city. The key to multiplying our gains as an innovative local government today is empowering our young residents to become active citizens for tomorrow.
Social Media
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🌍✨ Celebrating International Human Rights Day! 🕊️🤝 In 1948, the United Nations enshrined 30 articles of human rights to which all people are entitled, without restriction, from birth. The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom #humanrights projects around the world promote human rights education and lay the foundations for building just and tolerant societies. Liberal democracy can only exist when freedom and equality are enjoyed equally by all. Read more about our commitment in our current Human Rights Defender.
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Last year António Guterres said “The world is facing unprecedented and interlocking challenges to human rights”. Our common humanity is the most fundamental thing we share. Let’s protect it and reverse the damaging trends showing up in hunger, poverty, violence, climate change and other threats around the world. We call on states, civil society, the private sector and individuals to reignite their commitment to all human rights - civil, cultural, economic, political and social. #HumanRightsDay #UN
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Watch Ester Joseph, a partner of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation Tanzania office, and her powerful journey from practicing female genital mutilation (FGM) to becoming a passionate advocate against it. Learn how she now empowers communities to combat harmful practices like FGM and early marriages. Tune in for insights on empowerment, breaking cycles of human rights violations, and join the conversation for change! #ENDFGM #Tanzania #Empowerment #HumanRights #16DaysOfActivism
