| Company type | Promotion of liberal democracy |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1993; 32 years ago (1993) inJohannesburg, South Africa[1] |
Number of employees | 13 staff 20 research fellows 11 trustees (2019) |
| Website | hsf |
TheHelen Suzman Foundation is an independent, non-partisan think tank inSouth Africa dedicated to promotingliberal democratic values andhuman rights in post-apartheid South Africa through its research, publications, litigation[2] and submissions[3] to theSouth African Parliament.
The foundation was established in honour ofHelen Suzman, a long-time liberal opposition MP who opposed apartheid in theSouth African parliament and the foundation'spatron. Its liberalism is grounded in Helen’s legacy, and draws from the history of liberal thought in South Africa.
The foundation believes that theConstitution of South Africa is a liberal document. In its preamble the Constitution calls for “a society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights”, which aims to “free the potential of each person” and where “every citizen is equally protected by law”.[4]
The foundation publishes opinion pieces on its website,[1] in a quarterly electronic magazine,Focus,[5] and via email.
AcademicR. W. Johnson was the foundation's first director until he resigned in 1995.[6] Johnson's successor at the foundation,Lawrence Schlemmer, In 2006,Raenette Taljaard succeeded Schlemmer to become the foundation's director.[7] She, in turn, was succeeded by Francis Antonie in 2010. Francis Antonie served as director from 2010 until he was replaced by Nicole Fritz, who took over the reins in 2022. Nicole Fritz resigned in December 2023. Naseema Fakir is currently the Executive Director.
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