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News from the CGF Desk

CGF: Honorary Patronship: Professor Steven Friedman - Democracy and governance infused (2014-05-05)

Many South Africans have become more vocal about the problems of our country; and the debates about matters such as crime, corruption, unemployment and poor standards of education will no doubt continue for some time ahead. 
Whilst the nature of these challenges is not easily overcome -- especially in a young democracy -- what is at least positive is the fact that the citizens of our country are free to discuss these issues openly.  This was most certainly not the case in the previous apartheid-led government.  The consequence of speaking out against the apartheid-led government at the time was either some form of detention or long-term (life) jail sentence.  Today, and notwithstanding the challenges we still face as a country, people are free to protest against injustice, or establish their own public discussion forums and even form their own political parties.  This is progress; although the progress may not be as fast for some as it may be for others.

Indeed if we cast our minds back just twenty years ago, South Africa was not -- in all honesty -- a country that was a popular destination, or for that matter liked by the international community.  Prior to 1994, South Africa was boycotted by most internationals, we had a weak trading position, the majority of South Africans had few democratic rights, extreme poverty and low-class education was rife in black communities, segregation of race and discrimination against black people was legislated, and so the list went on.  On the opposite end of this scale, white people had unrestricted access to most things that life could offer in South Africa at the time, barring perhaps that white people still had to ‘toe the line’ as far as politics was concerned.  Back then, most white South Africans were either not sufficiently informed upon political matters, or they were just too scared to enter this highly controversial arena.

Of course there were, relatively speaking, a few white people who were very outspoken against the atrocities the apartheid-government imposed upon the people of colour in South Africa.  Some of these activists included Beyers Naudé, Helen Suzman, Dereck Marsh, John Aitchison, Peter Brown, Hans Meidner, Renfrew Christie and Neil Aggett; the latter being a young South African doctor who was the only white anti-apartheid activist to die in detention.

South Africa is no stranger to democracy; and as our country continues to develop its institutions and legal frameworks to ensure that all its citizens are afforded their basic rights, expectedly this must be underpinned by the highest standards of good governance and the rule of law.  It is in this respect -- as ‘democracy and governance meet’ -- that we are truly honoured to announce that Professor Steven Friedman joins the prestigious ranks of CGF Research Institute’s Honorary Patrons.
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