The Helen Suzman Foundation is:

one of South Africa's leading policy think tanks. Our mission is to promote liberal constitutional democracy through broadening public debate, publishing and research. The HSF was founded in 1993 and has consistently promoted the liberal democratic values that informed Helen Suzman's work throughout her public life, and that she so clearly demonstrated in her devotion to public service.

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Latest news

Justice Symposium - 16 May

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The Helen Suzman Foundation, in association with the Open Society Foundation for South Africa, held the Third Justice Symposium on 16 May entitled: The Appointment and Accountability of Judges.

Sir Jeffrey Jowell, of the Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law, delivered the keynote address.

Former Chief Justice Pius Langa and Carmel Rickard were the respondents.

Jeffrey's lecture will be available for download shortly.

 

Keeping the Lights On - Focus 64 is available for download

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Lenin’s definition of communism – soviet power plus the electrification of the whole country –sounds a little whimsical today. The Russians never got communism; but they did get Boris Pasternak’s novel on the electrification of the Soviet Union, and the rest of the world got Nigel Osborne’s Chamber Opera, also on the electrification of the Soviet Union. Lenin was at least correct in recognising the importance of electricity in the industrial development of the Soviet Union.

This edition of Focus reviews the electrification of South Africa, but goes beyond straightforward supply side issues and considers alternative energy sources, sustainability, and the social impact of the energy sector.

Download the full publication HERE

Or individual articles HERE

 

South African Police Service Amendment Bill - Submission to Parliament

On 27 March 2012, the Helen Suzman Foundation made a submission on the South African Police Service Amendment Bill (New Hawks Bill).

Read the Executive Summary and Download the Full Submission here

 

National Health Amendment Bill - Submission to Parliament

On 9 March 2012, the Helen Suzman Foundation submitted a response to the National Health Amendment Bill. Our key concerns related to the accountability structure of the Office of Health Standards Compliance. READ MORE

  

Budget 2012/2013 - Comment

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23 February 2012

Minister Gordhan’s 2012 Budget is very much set against the backdrop of the struggling global economy. In his speech on Wednesday the Minister took the opportunity to remark that, despite recent developments, Greece’s problems (and, by implication, the problems of South Africa’s biggest trading partner, the European Union) are far from over.

Download the full comment here

 

Protection of State Information Bill - Submission to NCOP

17 February 2012

The passage of this Bill has been poorly managed. The result has been the creation of an extremely tense environment. The adverse effect of this environment on the policy processes is notable for the very reason that the debates around this Bill have become polarised.

There is a growing conviction that the Bill has been driven by narrow political interests instead of considering the broader societal interests of South Africa as a country, particularly when the issues at hand have the potential to seriously alter relations between the state, its different levels of government and citizens. In addition, the focus on a public interest defence, vital as this is, has meant that many other serious issues pertaining to this Bill have been overlooked.

Download the Full Submission Here

  

Latest updates to our Health Project

Take a look at the Latest News Section for our Health Project:

  • Desperately seeking health reform - is 'NHI' the answer? - Opinion piece by Kate Francis, one of our Researchers published by Polity.org.za
  • Responses by other organisations to the National Health Insurance Green Paper

   

Helen Suzman Memorial Lecture 2011

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On 22 November 2011 Kate O'Regan, former Justice of the Constitutional Court, delivered the annual Helen Suzman Memorial Lecture:

A Forum for Reason: Reflections on the role and work of the Constitutional Court

The Lecture was hosted by the Helen Suzman Foundation, in association with the Gordon Institute for Business Science, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty, the Kaplan Centre for Jewish Studies and Research at UCT, and HSBC.

Download the full Lecture HERE

 

 

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