Vision

Promoting liberal constitutional democracy in South Africa

Who We Are

The Helen Suzman Foundation was founded in 1993. The Foundation 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.

The Foundation aims to reach a wide and diverse population, and will offer a platform for the dissemination of informed research and a forum for reasoned debate about policy choices.

Over the past 20 years the country has seen the dismantling of apartheid and the transition from a white minority government to a democratically elected government. While this transition to democracy has been universally lauded, the developmental and institutional weaknesses of state and society continue to impact massively on service delivery, especially to the poor. Problems around service delivery pose a profoud threat to our constitutional democracy. The Helen Suzman Foundation provides a platform to discuss, debate and research areas around service delivery as we believe that the best defence of liberal consitutional democracy is holding government accountable. This we can do by keeping issues before the public.

The Foundation can help promote democracy in South Africa by recognising and highlighting key social issues through its broad-based research programme, and by ensuring that the liberal project is extended to address poverty and social marginalisation.

 

Mission

The mission of the Helen Suzman Foundation is to create a platform for public debate and dialogue - through publications, roundtable discussions, conferences, and by developing a research profile through an internship programme - with the aim of enhancing public service delivery in all its constituent parts. The work of the Helen Suzman Foundation will be driven by the principles that informed Helen Suzman's public life.

These principles are:

  • Reasoned discourse;
  • Fairness and equity;
  • The protection of individual human rights.

The Foundation is not aligned to any political party and will actively work with a range of people and organisations to be an influencing force for the country’s emerging democracy.
 

"I stand for simple justice, equal opportunity and human rights; the indispensable elements in a democratic society - and well worth fighting for." - Helen Suzman

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