Cape Town / Johannesburg, South Africa
The Founcation’s work in South Africa focuses on strengthening the rule of law, liberal democracy, and a social market economy. We support civil society organisations, think tanks, research institutions, and liberal-minded decision-makers in both the economy and society.
In Cape Town, the seat of the parliament, the foundation cooperates with the DA members of national and provincial parliaments, local government councillors, youth movements, and their support structures to strengthen leadership and improve their policy solutions. Through its work, FNF strengthens the rule of law, fosters an open society, and promotes sustainable development in South Africa.
News
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"You must understand your political competitor"
With South Africa being in a Government of National Unity (GNU), or essentially a coalition government, German Member of Parliament Carl-Julius Cronenberg from the Free Democratic Party (FDP) believes that much can be learned from Germany. Cronenberg visited South Africa for the first time last week, where he engaged with various stakeholders, including the German Embassy and Democratic Alliance (DA) Members of the South African Parliament. He spent a few days in Johannesburg, where coalitions are unstable, and a few days in the best-run metropolitan city in the country, Cape Town.
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“I want education to get back to basics”
Politics is a bumpy and sometimes uncertain road. The story of Ciska Jordaan is a testament to this. Following the May 2024 elections Jordaan was elected as a Member of Parliament and now serves as a member of the Basic Education Portfolio Committee.
However, her journey into politics began much earlier. During her days at the University of Pretoria, she noted how active student politics was, but at the time, she had no interest. -
“I would choose politics again”
Since a young age, Karabo Khakhau has always been a voice for those who cannot speak up for themselves. Today, she is a member of Parliament and the spokesperson of the Democratic Alliance (DA). Being a woman in the political arena is no easy job, but if she could choose again, she would still choose politics. Khakhau’s journey in politics began during her university days at the University of Cape Town under the Democratic Alliance Students Organization (DASO). However, she says her mother always reminds her that she has been an activist since childhood.
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"I want people to be heard"
"I want Parliament to be a place where people can voice their concerns, a place where they can be heard," says Dr Annelie Lotriet, Parliament's newly elected Deputy Speaker. We meet in her office in Africa House, within the Parliamentary buildings in Cape Town. It's clear she's still settling into the space, but her work to make Parliament a voice for the people has already begun. Lotriet’s political journey began while she was a lecturer, balancing her career with being a mother and wife. "It's no easy task. You need to be a multitasker,” she says.
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Getting young people into business
"When young people and young girls look at me, I want them to see what is possible," says Deidre Baartman, the Minister for Finance in South Africa's Western Cape Province. As I enter her office, her welcoming smile and confident demeanour immediately set the tone. Dressed in all black, she emanates a presence that speaks of both authority and approachability.
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Restoring dignity in the Eastern Cape
In South Africa and across the world, women make up the largest population group in society, yet women are not equally represented in structures like Parliament, Caucuses, Legislatures, or leadership in general. Annually, the 9th of August is dedicated to commemorating the struggle of women and celebrating their achievements across all sectors in South Africa. This month, the FNF in South Africa puts the spotlight on nine liberal women in politics, kicking off with Chantel King.
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Ahead of Germany's own elections, are there any lessons from the South African context?
Recent polls suggest the far-right populist party (AfD) will perform well in the autumn provincial elections in Thuringia, Saxony, and Brandenburg. This could complicate coalition-building, likely requiring a broad alliance to prevent an AfD-led government. South Africa’s 2024 Government of National Unity (GNU) offers a parallel, reintroduced after the ANC lost its majority, recalling the 1994 GNU under Nelson Mandela.
Social Media
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Are you an ambitious African startup founder? Join us for a night of inspiration, networking, and a chance to win! A New Image of Africa brings you an unforgettable evening of live conversations on X (formerly Twitter) with leading startup experts about the future of African entrepreneurship! On Thursday, 17th October 2024, from 18:00 – 20:00 CAT, we’re bringing you three back-to-back talks on a virtual stage, featuring leading voices in startup founding and how to overcome early-stage startup challenges, Artificial Intelligence in Africa, and funding for early-stage startups across the continent. The night will end with an exciting pitch competition where three founders will pitch the massive visions of their companies and the best startup pitch will win $500! Eligibility: If your startup has been in operation for 1-3 years, register using this link https://shorturl.at/Fty6B to secure your spot and pitch for a chance to win! 💡Bonus: Tag two of your startup peers in the comments. If they register to attend the talk, you could win an additional cash prize💰! Winners selected weekly from 30th September 2024! Don’t miss this evening of insight, learning and connecting with other ambitious startup founders in Africa, powered by The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom. Let's come together to shape the future of African entrepreneurship! #Entrepreneurship #PitchCompetition #NewImageOfAfrica
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Participate, promote and include! Democracies are under threat from online mis- and disinformation, rising populism, the destabilising effects of the climate crisis, unresolved conflicts, financial turmoil and many other risk factors. To advance democracy, it is important that everyone is able to meaningfully participate in the decisions that affect their lives. An engaged, well-educated electorate is at the heart of strong democratic societies. #InternationalDayOfDemocracy #Democracy #UN
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A New Era of Collaboration: FNF Kenya 🇰🇪 , and Germany 🇩🇪 Leverage Technology to Address Labor Gaps - Friday, September 13, 2024 will be remembered as a historic moment for the Friedrich NaumannFoundation for Freedom as it marked the realisation of an innovative concept advocating for the exchange of labour and skills between the Global North and Global South. In Berlin, an MOU was signed between FNF, the Government of Kenya, the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce, and QhalaTrust. This initiative was born out of the recognition that while the Baby Boomer generation in the Global North is rapidly retiring, creating significant labor shortages, many young, talented professionals in the Global South face a lack of job opportunities. The concept leverages technology to bridge these gaps, allowing skilled youth from the Global South to access remote job opportunities, benefiting both regions.
