OUR HISTORY

• 1975

  FMF FOUNDED to promote and foster a society based on classical liberal principles. The founders expressed concern about "the present trend ... towards increased government participation in and control of the economy". For more information as recorded in the first edition of The Individualist, see here.

  
  CHAIRMAN 1975-1978: The FMF’s first chairman was Lou Sher, also President of Assocom – see photos here. Leon Louw led the steering committee responsible for the establishment of the foundation. Also on the steering committee were Ed Emary, Mike Lillard, Fred Macaskill, André Spies and Marc Swanepoel.

  
  
  Original LOGO borrowed from The Individualist

• 1976

  
  CHAIRMAN of the interim Executive Committee 1976: After the FMF was registered as a non profit organisation in 1976, Dirk Hertzog, President of the SA Society of Marketers and Chairman of the Oude Meester Group, was chosen as chairman of FMF's interim executive committee - see photos here

  FMF expresses concern over PRICE CONTROLS in The Individualist: Disaster Diary - read more here

  TRIBUTE to John Berry, founder member of the newly formed Free Market Foundation - read more here

  FMF Statement of Principles recorded in The Individualist 11 November - read more here

• 1977

  
  FMF reconstituted and INAUGURAL MEETING held - see photos here

• 1978

  
  VISIT by Friedrich Hayek. FMF brought Nobel Memorial Prize winner, Friedrich Hayek, to South Africa to influence those in power. During his 28 days in the country, Hayek gave 11 lectures to audiences of all races totalling some 2,500 people, and participated in two seminars. See photos here; see an overview in The Individualist here

  
  First FMF LOGO

  
  CHAIRMAN 1978-2005: Michael O'Dowd (see Tribute 2006) - see photos here

• 1979

  
  FMF CONGRESS - see photos here

• 1980

  
  Symond Fiske awarded Free Market Award - see photos here

• 1981

  
  Prof Brian Kantor awarded Free Market Award - see photos here

  
  LOGO revised

  
  In April, FMF was the exhibition co-ordinator for the SOWETO TRADE FAIR. The event was publicised as Manufacturers gear up for Soweto's first major fair in the Clarion - see photos here

  DIRECTOR: Having served on the Executive Committee since the 1977 inaugural meeting, Eustace Davie joined the FMF on 1 October 1981 as a Director - see 2016 director photos here

• 1982

  
  Prof Johannes Gildenhuys awarded Free Market Award - see photos here

• 1983

  
  Prof Geert de Wet awarded Free Market Award - see photos here; see tribute 1997

• 1984

  
  Prof Nic Swart & Terry Markman awarded Free Market Award - see photos here

  
  DONATION: Michael O'Dowd accepts a donation of R10,000 from Sanlam Chairman, Dr Fred du Plessis - see photos here

• 1985

  
  Dr Sam Motsuenyane awarded Free Market Award - see photos here

  TRAINING: The FMF has a long history of training. In the 1980s, almost a million workers were introduced to basic free market concepts through the FMF’s With Justice for All training program. In the 1990s, an FMF associate continued the worker training using the Business and Economic Principles course, which emphasised the importance of economic literacy and an enterprising attitude in the workplace. Also in the 1990s, the FMF established the Liberty School to introduce students to the fundamentals of liberty, human rights and the free market. During each five-day school, university students were exposed to classical liberal ideas in the fields of law, politics, economics and history. Students were introduced to thinkers such as Von Mises, Hayek, Hutt, Friedman, Buchanan and Rand and thoroughly debated tough issues such as land reform and property rights, freedom of speech, education and affirmative action. Read our training reports for 1997 through 2003 here

• 1986

  
  Ian Hetherington awarded Free Market Award - see photos here

  
  South Africa: The Solution co-authored by Leon Louw and Frances Kendall - see author photos here; read more about the book, its impact, its forewords and endorsements here

  Leon Louw's 1986 report to the Executive Committee, documenting "three revolutions", can be read here. The FMF's general report can be read here.

• 1987

  
  Marc Swanepoel awarded Free Market Award - see video here; see photos here

  
  DAKAR CONFERENCE: FMF played a role in the famous Dakar conference, which is regarded by experts as having made a decisive contribution to the abolition of apartheid. It brought leading white and black South Africans together to consider how to end apartheid and with what to replace it. The conference was attended by most of the ANC’s top leadership in exile – including former president Thabo Mbeki – many of whom became ministers in the post-apartheid cabinet. Leon Louw presented on a constitutional model for how South Africans could live together democratically and peacefully. The model, based on The Solution, advocated a federal system with limited government, devolution of power and a bill of rights. Read more here and here

• 1988

  Lawrence Mavundla awarded Free Market Award 

• 1989

  
  Jan Buter awarded Free Market Award - see photos here

  
  PUBLICATIONS: South Africa: The New Revolution – Don Caldwell (see tribute 1992)

  
  CONFERENCE: FMF hosted a two-day conference on Consumer Power in a Free Market. Speakers: Sudha Shenoy | Leon Louw | Louise Tager | Esau Mngomezulu | Marc Swanepoel | Dan Leach | Izak Cronje | Joe Matoena | Symond Fiske | Brian Benfield | Ian Hetherington | Jabu Sibiya | Nancy Seijas | Duncan Reekie | Michael Corke | Eustace Davie | Ann Bernstein | Terry Markman | Frances Kendall | Lawrence Mavundla | Frank Vorhies | Elridge Mathebula | Don Caldwell. See photos here; see five videos: here; here; here; here; here 

• 1990

  
  Prof Duncan Reekie awarded Free Market Award - see photos here

  In 1990, Leon Louw and Frances Kendall were nominated for the NOBEL PEACE PRIZE for the promotion of the ideas contained in South Africa: The Solution; and again in 1991 and 1993. In 1994, when Frances formed the Federal Party and contested the first democratic elections, there were some who queried the Nobel nomination. Read a letter of confirmation here

  PUBLICATIONS: Consumer power in a free market – (edited by) Frank Vorhies & Terry Markman ||||| Privatisation and economic justice – (edited by) Frank Vorhies

• 1991

  
  Nonia Ramphomane awarded Free Market Award - see photos here

  
  Visit to the Manhattan Institute, USA - see photos here

  
  Terry Markman served on the International AVIATION POLICY Steering Committee 1991/2 - see photos here

  
  FMF runs first LIBERTY SCHOOL - a weekend of intense discussion and debate on liberal issues for university students - see photos here

  
  LAUNCH: The fallacy of national control by Dr Richard Grant - see photos here

• 1992

  
  Nils Dittmer awarded Free Market Award (see Tribute 2001) - see photos here

  
  TRIBUTE to Don Caldwell who died in a car accident at age 32. FMF published Don's first book, South Africa: The New Revolution, in 1989. Read tributes and about the Don Caldwell Trust and the Unconventional Hero Award here; see photos here

  
  ADDRESS by Leon Louw to Mopani group - see photos here

  PUBLICATIONS: The common sense of wealth creation – Marc Swanepoel

  
  FMF runs second annual LIBERTY SCHOOL - a weekend of intense discussion and debate on liberal issues for university students - see photos here
  

• 1993

  
  Prof Louise Tager awarded Free Market Award - see photos here

  
  FMF runs third annual LIBERTY SCHOOL - a weekend of intense discussion and debate on liberal issues for university students - see photos here

  
  TAXI ASSOCIATION (add more about relationship and work done) - read more here; see photos here

• 1994

  
  Prof Eckart Kassier awarded Free Market Award - see photos here

  
  LAUNCH of The forgotten heroes – Ian Hetherington - see photos here

  PUBLICATIONS: Nationalisation: How governments control you – Richard J Grant ||||| The forgotten heroes – Ian Hetherington

  FMF was responsible for over 150 regulatory reforms between 1975–1994: increased shopping hours, abolished control boards, deregulated transport, etc. See list here
  

• 1995

  Dr John Ledger awarded Free Market Award

  
  MONT PELERIN SOCIETY (MPS): After World War II, in 1947, when many of the values of Western civilization were imperiled, 36 scholars, mostly economists, with some historians and philosophers, were invited by Professor Friedrich Hayek to meet at Mont Pelerin, near Montreux, Switzerland, to discuss the state and the possible fate of liberalism (in its classical sense) in thinking and practice. The MPS's objective is to facilitate an exchange of ideas between like-minded scholars in the hope of strengthening the principles and practice of a free society and to study the workings, virtues, and defects of market-oriented economic systems. FMF organised the 1995 MPS Regional Meeting meeting in Cape Town - see photos here

  SUBMISSIONS - Constitutional Assembly on… Democracy; Character of the state; Single sovereign state; Supremacy of the constitution ||||| Separation between church and state ||||| Economic constitution ||||| Accountable government: Direct democracy ||||| Accountable government: Checks and balances ||||| Accountable government: Transparency | Separation of powers; Structure of government ||||| Amendments to constitution ||||| The nature of the provincial system and local government; Allocation of powers ||||| Allocation of powers; Legislative competence; Provincial legislative and executive authorities ||||| Local government; Financial and fiscal relations ||||| Affirmative action ||||| Constitutional principle ||||| Bill of rights ||||| The relationship between different levels of the court; Single or split judiciary; Constitutional court ||||| Specialised structures ||||| Property ||||| Reserve bank independence

  
  LAUNCH of Damage by debt – Symond Fiske - see photos here

  PUBLICATIONS: The final constitution for the Republic of South Africa: A critique of the Interim Constitution – Bruce Fein ||||| Damage by debt – Symond Fiske ||||| Exploding population myths – Jim Peron ||||| Health-care options for South Africa: Lessons from the UK and the USA – W Duncan Reekie

• 1996

  Nigel Bruce awarded Free Market Award. Then editor of the Financial Mail, Mr Bruce received the award for his courageous campaigning for economic and personal liberty during the 26 years he worked for the FM, particularly during the period of his editorship which commenced in 1986.

  SUBMISSIONS: Submission on Trade & Industry Budget Hearings ||||| Evidence submitted to the Tax Commission

  
  PROJECT TRANSITION - see photos here

  Evidence led by FMF in the Constitutional Court on two of the issues to which it had objected: property and socio-economic rights – both of which had to be argued on the basis of whether or not the specific clauses complied with the constitutional principles stipulated in the Interim Constitution. It emphasised two aspects in respect of property rights and compensation. The first related to the absence in the draft constitution of a clause entrenching the fundamental right to acquire and hold property. The second to the provision that the amount, timing and manner of payment of compensation should reflect an equitable balance between the public interest and the interests of those affected, having regard to all relevant factors including “the purpose of the expropriation”. The FMF's Special Report can be read here

  
  LAUNCH of The O’Dowd Thesis and the triumph of democratic capitalism – Michael O’Dowd - see photos here. Clem Sunter: Michael O’Dowd has been one of South Africa’s true prophets with his thesis that advancing industrialisation would lead to the collapse of apartheid. Even more important was his High Road model which demonstrates that, for South Africa to make a completely successful transition, high economic growth is the central condition.

  PUBLICATIONS: New Zealand’s remarkable reforms – Donald T Brash ||||| Equality for the labour market: An appreciation of WH Hutt – Charles W Baird ||||| Monopoly and competition policy – W Duncan Reekie ||||| The urban housing issue – David Dewar ||||| The world revolution in economic policy 1945-1995 – Michael O’Dowd ||||| The O’Dowd Thesis and the triumph of democratic capitalism – Michael O’Dowd

• 1997

  Michael Jwambi awarded Free Market Award (see tribute 2008). Mr Jwambi, a businessman from Khayelitsha, displayed remarkable courage and perseverance in the face of almost insuperable odds. Despite an attack in which he lost seven family members and in which his shop was burnt down, he refused to give up. He rebuilt the business and started again. A second attack in August 1997 in which his elbow was shattered by a bullet, also left him undaunted. His example is an inspiration to others and shows how South Africa can become a winning nation.

  
  LOGO revised with optimistic tilt
  

  
  Leon Louw attends the 50th anniversary of the MONT PELERIN SOCIETY in Switzerland - see attendee list here; see photos here

  PROJECT TRANSITION objectives: 1) To contribute to the democratic transition in South Africa and its move towards a market economy. 2) To bring about positive economic policy changes by  influencing policy and legislation through formal and informal evidence to government officials and key political players, as well as through media pressure, research and publications. 3) To persuade government to repeal or relax legislative or administrative barriers to enterprise. 4) To prevent new legislative or administrative barriers to enterprise. 
  Project activities: The Advocacy Project is intended to institutionalise the efforts of the Foundation in Cape Town and so improve its ability to influence parliamentarians and key decision makers (who are based in Cape Town). It is designed to have the following components: 1) To monitor legislation and policy developments. 2) To initiate and maintain contact with parliamentarians, committees and officials. 3) To lead evidence to parliamentarians, committees and officials on all aspects of economic policy. 4) To hold workshops on free enterprise alternatives for parliamentarians, committees and officials. 5) To provide information and assistance at the request of parliamentarians, committees and officials. 6) To intercede particularly on behalf of small and emerging businesses in respect of detrimental legislation and policies. 7) To carry out relevant research.
  Read 1997-1998 combined reports here

  TRIBUTE: FMF recorded with deep great regret the untimely death of Professor Geert de Wet, a valued Council member and adviser to the Foundation, and an internationally respected economist. Professor de Wet had a long and close relationship with the FMF. In recognition of his outstanding contribution to the cause of economic freedom he received the 1983 Free Market Award. He was elected to the Council of the Foundation in 1983 and served as a member until his death. Whilst he was at the Rand Afrikaans University he inaugurated annual free market lectures presented in alternate years by foreign and local free market luminaries. After his appointment as head of the Department of Economics at the University of Pretoria he was the leading torch-bearer of Afrikaans liberal economic thought, pioneered by his distinguished predecessors in that department. Apart from his regular scholarly and popular contributions in support of economic liberalism, he presented an Afrikaans radio series on economics for a number of years. He was a member of the Mont Pelerin Society and held executive positions on many important bodies, including recent service as President of the Economic Society of South Africa.

  
  Temba Nolutshungu and Leon Louw formed part of a group invited by the FNS to study ADVOCACY in GERMANY from 7 June 1997 through 18 June 1997; fellow participants included representatives from NAFCOC, AHI and NIC - see photos here

  SUBMISSIONS: Submission on Medicines and Related Substances Control Amendment Bill ||||| Submission on Long-Term Insurance Bill ||||| Submission on Skills Development Bill ||||| Submission on A Minerals and Mining Policy for South Africa (Green Paper) ||||| Evidence to Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mineral and Energy Affairs ||||| Evidence to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health

  PUBLICATIONS: Laws Affecting Small Business SERIES:  Finance – Gary Moore ||||| Health – Leon Louw & Gary Moore ||||| Justice – Leon Louw ||||| Labour – Michael Bagraim & Eustace Davie ||||| Land – Jim Harris & Leon Louw ||||| Licensing – Eustace Davie & Gary Moore ||||| Schooling – Eustace Davie ||||| Tax – Eustace Davie & Ian Hetherington

  PUBLICATIONS: Industrial Policy: A critique – W Duncan Reekie ||||| Is privatisation a public good? A review of recent literature – Candice S Perlmann & Harry Zarenda

  
  
  NELSON MANDELA at the Cape Town Waterfront: Temba Nolutshungu, in his capacity as non-executive director of the V&A Waterfront, attended a company meeting at which Nelson Mandela expressed concerns about the role of Pagad in Cape Town - see photos here

• 1998

  
  Pikkie van den Heever awarded Free Market Award - read more here; see photos here

  
  FORT HARE University graduation attended by Leon Louw - see photos here

  ADVOCACY PROJECT: With the assistance of CIPE the FMF continued on a major new initiative, the Advocacy Project. Legislation and Parliamentary Committee meetings were monitored, contact was maintained with Parliament, submissions were made on a variety of issues and information was disseminated - read 1998 report here

  AGRICULTURE: Nils Dittmer, Executive Director of the Organisation of Livestock Producers (OLP), and FMF Council Member, had several successes in the liberalisation of agriculture in South Africa - read more here

  SUBMISSIONS: Oral Evidence on A Minerals and Mining Policy for South Africa ||||| Oral Evidence on Labour Budget Vote no. 22 ||||| Submission on Basic Conditions of Employment Bill ||||| Submission on Medical Schemes Bill ||||| Submission on Tobacco Products Control Amendment Bill ||||| Oral evidence on Green Paper: A Mineral and Mining Policy for SA ||||| Oral evidence on Labour Budget Vote No. 22. ||||| Presentation on Estate Agents Bill ||||| Presentation on Long Term Insurance Bill ||||| Submission on Competition Bill ||||| Oral evidence on Competition Bill 

  PUBLICATIONS: Chronically large federal budget deficits: The American experience – Roger W Garrison ||||| Labour markets and economic growth: Lessons from the UK – Patrick Minford ||||| Privatisation: A UK success story – Thomas O’Malley ||||| South Africa as an “Open Society” – Michael O’Dowd ||||| The Meat Board “carve-up” – Nils Dittmer ||||| Unjustifiable dismissal – The economics of an unjust employment tax: The New Zealand Employment Contracts Act – Charles W Baird

  
  ECONOMICS OF HEALTH CARE: The FMF organised a fact-finding trip (to study the economics of health care) to the UK and the Czech Republic for five members of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health from 21 June through 29 June 1998. The group consisted of the following: Dr SJ Gous (NP); Mrs NB Gxowa (ANC); Dr EE Jassat (ANC); Mrs FB Marshoff (ANC); Mrs JN Vilakazi (IFP). The delegation was accompanied by Ms Rachel Jafta (Economist – Stellenbosch University) and Mr Temba Nolutshungu (Director – FMF). Read report here

  
  ACADEMIC ADVISORY BOARD established under chairmanship of Prof W Duncan Reekie. Members: Charles Baird, Professor of Economics at California State University, Hayward, USA; Brian Kantor, Dean of Commerce at the University of Cape Town, South Africa; Israel Kirzner, Professor of Economics at New York University, USA; Deepak Lal, Professor of Economics at the University of California, Los Angeles, USA; Patrick Minford, Professor of Economics at Cardiff Business School, University of Wales, UK; Pascal Salin, Professor of Economics at the Université Paris-Dauphin, Paris, France.

• 1999

  
  Johann Rupert awarded Free Market Award - read more here; see photos here

  ADVOCACY PROJECT: With the assistance of CIPE the FMF continued on a major new initiative, the Advocacy Project. Legislation and Parliamentary Committee meetings were monitored, contact was maintained with Parliament, submissions were made on a variety of issues and information was disseminated - read 1999 report here
  

  SUBMISSIONS: Submission on Consultative Paper: Proposal on the Future Constitution, Role and Function of Ombudsmen in the Financial Services Sector ||||| Submission on National Laboratory Services Bill ||||| Submission on Revised Draft Financial Advisers Bill ||||| Submission on Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Bill

  
  LAUNCH of Real money – Richard Grant. Real Money was published in memory of the late Dr AD Wassenaar with the support of the Wassenaar family. At the launch, Themba Sono acted as MC, Nigel Bruce was the guest speaker, and Andreas Wassenaar spoke briefly about why his family was happy to sponsor publication of this book. See photos here

  
  LAUNCH of From poverty to property: Themba Sono’s five steps to real transformation – Themba Sono - see photos here

  PUBLICATIONS: Diamonds: The competitive cartel – W Duncan Reekie ||||| Liberal reflections – Michael O’Dowd ||||| Capital structure and the business cycle – Pierre le Roux ||||| From poverty to property: Themba Sono’s five steps to real transformation – Themba Sono ||||| Real money – Richard Grant
  Read 2000 promotion of Themba Sono proposals here

  
  LOGO modernised

  
  FMF partners with MALAMULELA Social Movement for the Unemployed - read more here; see photos here

• 2000

  
  Sir Ketumile Masire awarded Free Market Award. The award ceremony was held in 2001 in Cape Town - read more here and here; see photos here

  VISIT by Prof Richard Epstein, James Parker Hall Professor of Law at the University of Chicago, who spoke on the following occasions and topics: Antitrust policies in the USA (with special reference to Microsoft) to an audience of academics, business people and students ||||| The challenges of globalisation to a Friedrich Naumann Foundation/FMF breakfast audience of  MPs, business and ratepayers’ associations, the media and representatives of foreign embassies and consulates ||||| Forbidden grounds for employment contracts: “Consumer sovereignty” meets the anti-discrimination laws at the biennial William Hutt Memorial Lecture to academics, students and business people ||||| Simple rules for a complex world to the FMF Liberty and Prosperity conference ||||| Intellectual property rights to an American Chamber of Commerce/FMF breakfast audience ||||| Mineral rights to an audience of mining house executives and government representatives.

  CONFERENCE: Liberty and Prosperity: Principles of Good Law in a Complex Society conference which featured: Advocate Mojanku Gumbi – Legal Advisor to the President ||||| Professor Richard Epstein – James Parker Hall Professor of Law at the University of Chicago ||||| Professor David Unterhalter – Director, Centre for Applied Legal Studies ||||| Leon Louw – Executive Director, Free Market Foundation ||||| Professor Michael Katz – Chairman, Edward Nathan & Friedland Inc ||||| Justice Pius Langa – Deputy President, Constitutional Court of South Africa ||||| Ellem Francis – Director, Legal Resources Centre Johannesburg.

  
  FMF's 25th ANNIVERSARY celebration dinner - read citations and more here; see photos here

  ADVOCACY PROJECT: With the assistance of CIPE the FMF continued on a major new initiative, the Advocacy Project. Legislation and Parliamentary Committee meetings were monitored, contact was maintained with Parliament, submissions were made on a variety of issues and information was disseminated - read 2000 report here
  

  TRIBUTE: Everyone at the FMF has been saddened by the deaths of Dr R Straszacker and of Mr Colin Adcock. Both served as Patrons of the Foundation for many years and agreed to do so during the time when the free market concept was particularly unpopular with government because it meant equality for all before the law. These eminent South Africans placed principle before expediency in lending their names and support to the Foundation, which has such a clear and unequivocal purpose. We honour them for their courage and foresight, for their contributions to the cause of economic freedom in South Africa, and for their considerable influence in making this country a better place to live in.

  SUBMISSIONS: Submission on Proposal to Introduce a Capital Gains Tax in South Africa ||||| Submission on Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Bill ||||| Submission on Revised Draft of Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Bill ||||| Submission on Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Bill

  SUBMISSIONS - CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW COMMITTEE I: Preamble ||||| PART 1 ||||| Bill of rights – First and second generation rights – Chapter 2 ||||| Security services – Police – Chapter 11 ||||| Traditional communities – Chapter 12 ||||| PART 2 ||||| Accountable government ||||| Bill of rights – Direct democracy – Chapter 2 ||||| Bill of rights – Property – Chapter 2 ||||| Discretionary powers and the Rule of Law ||||| Provinces and Local government – Chapters 6 and 7 ||||| Separation of powers ||||| Transparency – Chapters 2 and 10

  PUBLICATIONS: WHO, what and why? Trans-national government, legitimacy and the WHO – Roger Scruton ||||| Smoked out: Anti-tobacco activism at the World Bank – Richard Tren & Hugh High ||||| Black markets and smuggling: An unintended consequence of government intervention – Roger Bate ||||| Deregulation of agricultural marketing in South Africa: Lessons learned – Nick Vink & Johann Kirsten ||||| Smoke gets in your eyes: The economic welfare effects of the World Bank-World Health Organisation global crusade against tobacco – Deepak Lal

  
  Eustace Davie and Temba Nolutshungu attended the MONT PELERIN SOCIETY meeting in Santiago, Chile, 12-17 November - see photos here

• 2001

  ADVOCACY PROJECT: With the assistance of CIPE the FMF continued on a major new initiative, the Advocacy Project. Legislation and Parliamentary Committee meetings were monitored, contact was maintained with Parliament, submissions were made on a variety of issues and information was disseminated - read 2001 report here
  

  SUBMISSIONS: Submission on Taxation Laws Amendment Bill (Capital Gains Tax) ||||| Submission on E-Commerce Green Paper ||||| Submission on Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Bill FAIS ||||| Submission on Mineral Development Bill ||||| Submission on Intended Telecommunications Policy Direction ||||| Submission on Draft Constitution of the New Taxi Body for National Taxi Alliance

  PUBLICATIONS: Jobs creation and government policy – Jerry L Jordan ||||| Cartels, spontaneous price discrimination and international pharmacy retailing – W Duncan Reekie ||||| Undermining mineral rights: An international comparison – Johan Biermann ||||| Capital Gains Tax: The pros and cons – Olimpia Staszczuk ||||| Gold, the euro, the dollar and the rand – Richard J Grant ||||| Growth theories and their application to the beloved country – Henry Kenney ||||| Ideal Matter: Globalisation and the intellectual property debate – Julian Morris, Rosalind Mowatt & W Duncan Reekie ||||| Investment, employment and South African labour laws: An international comparison – WS Siebert ||||| Money, central banking and monetary policy in the global financial arena – Jerry L Jordan ||||| Economic Freedom of the World – Annual report ||||| Habits of highly effective countries: Lessons for South Africa – Leon Louw ||||| A better hope for the new millennium – Michael O’Dowd

  
  TRIBUTE: Nils Dittmer, an Executive Committee member, Council member, and long-time friend of the Foundation, died tragically in a car accident in January 2001. Nils grew up on a farm in the Kalahari and studied biochemistry at the University of Pretoria. He was a successful farmer and businessman with a special interest in the development and management of extensive pastures. He became Chairman of the Organisation of Livestock Producers (OLP) in 1990 and in this capacity championed the cause of agricultural deregulation and spearheaded the campaign against Agricultural Control Boards. Due to his initiative and drive the Meat Board was scrapped and this was a catalyst for the abolition of all control boards. Nils was awarded the 1992 Free Market Award for his exceptional contribution to economic freedom in South Africa. Nils will be sorely missed. We extend our condolences to his family and friends.

  TRIBUTE: Ian McLeod, a long-standing Council member, died in hospital in January 2001. He first joined the FMF Council when he was Chairman of the Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce. He was an active promoter of free-market principles and will be missed by all at the Foundation. We extend our condolences to his family and friends.

• 2002

  
  Derek Hanekom awarded Free Market Award - read more here; see photos here

  RESERVE BANK visit: Eustace Davie wrote to then Governor of the Reserve Bank, Mr Tito Mboweni, expressing concern about the rapid increase in the base money supply (M0). As a result, Dr Richard Grant was brought to South Africa from the United Arab Emirates and spent two days in the Reserve Bank, during which he gave two presentations and had one-on-one discussions with several officials. As a result the bank regained control of increases in the money supply to the extent that the year-on-year increase in M0 to the end of February 2003 was 3.26% compared to 30.51% at the end of February 2002.

  
  LAUNCH of Sustainable development: Promoting progress or perpetuating poverty? - edited by Julian Morris. Most discussion of sustainable development has paid more attention to the long-term needs of the environment than to the needs of the present. But, as this book argues, the needs of people who are alive today must not take second place. And although the policies that are put forward in the name of ‘sustainable development’ are intended to benefit everyone, especially the poor, in reality many of them would harm both rich and poor alike. See photos here  

  
  MARCH in defence of informal traders: During the August / September World Summit on Sustainable Development in Sandton, FMF joined the Informal Business Forum and Indian and African farmers in a march demanding "Freedom to Trade" - read more here; see photos here

  ADVOCACY PROJECT: With the assistance of CIPE the FMF continued on a major new initiative, the Advocacy Project. Legislation and Parliamentary Committee meetings were monitored, contact was maintained with Parliament, submissions were made on a variety of issues and information was disseminated - read 2001 report here
  

  SUBMISSIONS: Submission on Electronic Communications and Transactions Bill ||||| Submission on Education Laws Amendment Bill & Higher Education Amendment Bill ||||| Submission on Future Constitution, Role and Function of Ombudsmen in the Financial Services Sector ||||| Submission on Labour Relations Amendment Bill ||||| Submission on National Health Laboratory Services Bill |||||  Submission on Revised Draft Financial Advisers Bill ||||| Submission on Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Bill

  
  LAUNCH of The cost of free water: The global problem of water misallocation and the case of South Africa – Roger Bate & Richard Tren - see photos here

  PUBLICATIONS: What future for welfare? – Peter Saunders ||||| Capital gains taxation and its applicability to South Africa – Roger Baxter ||||| The real reason for the fall of the rand – Richard J Grant ||||| Misguided virtue: False notions of corporate social responsibility – David Henderson ||||| Prejudice is free, but discrimination has costs: The holocaust and its parallels – Steven Farron ||||| The calculus of consent and Madisonian democracy – Henry Kenney ||||| Economic Freedom of the World – Annual report ||||| The cost of free water: The global problem of water misallocation and the case of South Africa – Roger Bate & Richard Tren

  
  
  Leon Louw attends and addresses MONT PELERIN SOCIETY London meeting, 5-10 October - see photos here

  TRIBUTE: Hans Middelmann was a prominent Cape Town businessman and intellectual. He served on the boards of major companies and the Cape Town University Council and Open Society Foundation. He was active in many fields of public life and was an active member of the Free Market Foundation Council from its inception. Philosophically Hans Middelmann was most strongly influenced by Karl Popper and Friedrich Hayek. He wrote many papers and articles explaining their economic and political philosophies, and their application to South Africa. His involvement with the Free Market Foundation centred mainly around its Cape Town and parliamentary activities where he was a friend and confidante of the Foundation’s Cape Town director, Temba Nolutshungu. One of Hans Middelmann’s most memorable characteristics is that even in his eighties he remained physically and mentally energetic and enthusiastic. All who knew him were incredulous about his age. Hans Middelmann was a close and loyal friend of the FMF for many years. In his own distinctive way he made enormous contributions to the promotion of personal and economic freedom in South Africa.

  TRIBUTE: Nic Swart was one of South Africa’s most prominent academics. He was awarded the 1984 Free Market Award for the radical free market reforms introduced in the former Ciskei homeland where he had distinguished himself as Chairman of the “Swart Commission”, as it was widely known. Many of the reforms recommended by his Commission were implemented, including the abolition of corporate tax, the introduction of simple, flat and low (15%) personal income tax and the abolition of many other taxes such as stamp duties, hut taxes, dog taxes, and licensing fees. There was a complete deregulation of small business including taxis, spazas, street-trading and money-lending. The result was the Ciskei economic miracle in which Ciskei became the only homeland to experience increased revenues from internal sources, high rates of economic growth, rapid job creation, and industrial investment which soon filled all available serviced sites. Ciskei became the only homeland with an influx “problem” and Nic Swart was at pains to discourage the government from introducing influx control into the homeland whereas the RSA government imposed controls to force people to remain in the other homelands. Nic Swart was a close and loyal friend of the FMF for many years. In his own distinctive way he made enormous contributions to the promotion of personal and economic freedom in South Africa.

• 2003

  
  Jacob Makwetla awarded Free Market Award - see photos here

  SUBMISSIONS: Submission on Liquor Bill ||||| Submission on Minerals and Petroleum Royalty Bill ||||| Submission on Amended Liquor Bill ||||| Submission on Fortification of Foodstuffs ||||| Submission on Tobacco Products Control Amendment Bill ||||| Submission on Tobacco Products Control Amendment Bill LRP

  PUBLICATIONS: On some unintended consequences of the welfare state – Kurt R Leube ||||| The real digital divide: Convergence and South Africa’s telecommunications and broadcasting policy – Neil Emerick ||||| Economic Freedom of the World – Annual report ||||| The wisdom of Ludwig von Mises – (presented by) Philip Moore

• 2004

  
  Herman Mashaba awarded Free Market Award - see photos here

  WINNER: FMF was one of 15 institutes selected from over 140 organisations in more than 50 countries to receive the Templeton Freedom Award for institute excellence - read more here and here

  SUBMISSIONS: Submission on Regulations Relating to a Transparent Pricing System for Medicines and Scheduled Substances |||||Submission on Precious Metals and Diamonds General Amendment Bill

  PUBLICATIONS: Economic Freedom of the World – Annual report ||||| Globalisation and economic growth: Evidence from emerging market economies and South Africa – Elsabé Loots ||||| Military expenditure in Sub-Saharan Africa: Why guns cost more than butter – Geoff Harris ||||| The deconstruction of privatisation: A wake up call for South Africa – ZA Spindler

• 2005

  SUBMISSIONS: Submission on Land Purchases by non-South Africans ||||| Submission on Health Care Charter ||||| Submission on National Credit Bill ||||| Submission on Diamonds Bill ||||| Submission on Genetically Modified Organisms Bill ||||| 

  PUBLICATIONS: Economic Freedom of the World – Annual report ||||| Is central banking the best monetary regime for South Africa? – Maureen Bader & Zane Spindler ||||| Unchain the child: Abolish compulsory schooling laws – Eustace Davie

• 2006

  SUBMISSIONS: Submission on Consumer Protection Bill ||||| Submission on Youth Unemployment

  PUBLICATIONS: The Mercatus / Enterprise Africa – SERIES by Karol Boudreaux: Taxing alternatives: Poverty alleviation and the South African taxi/minibus industry ||||| The effects of property titling in Langa Township, South Africa ||||| Seeds of Hope: Agricultural technologies & poverty alleviation in rural South Africa ||||| Community-based natural resource management and poverty alleviation in Namibia: A case study ||||| Economic Freedom of the World – Annual report ||||| South Africa’s health care under threat – Biermann, Johan

  
  TRIBUTE: Michael O'Dowd, FMF chairman 1978 to 2005, died 15 March 2006. This painting of O'Dowd is by Frances Kendall. Read his tribute, by FMF Executive Director Leon Louw, here

• 2007

  COURT CASE: The FMF’s sister organisation, the Law Review Project (LRP), acted as an amicus curiae in the case of Mohunram and Another v National Director of Public Prosecutions and Another which was heard by the Constitutional Court. The matter concerned civil asset forfeiture laws which allowed authorities to seize property used in connection with a crime. The LRP argued that the authorities were seizing private property from innocent third parties, and this power went beyond what was intended by the law itself. On the facts, the judgment came in favour of the LRP; however, the problematic provisions in the law remain. Read more here

  
  INDABA Intellectual Property Rights – Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, August 14

  
  
  ENTERPRISE AFRICA! Finding solutions to poverty... The Enterprise Africa! project was conducted in partnership with the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, Washington, DC and the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), London. The project, funded by the John Templeton Foundation, was carried out by Karol Boudreaux (Senior Fellow at the Mercatus Center), Eustace Davie (Director, FMF), Temba Nolutshungu (Director, FMF) and Jasson Urbach (Economist, FMF). The purpose of the project was to show what works in enterprise-based solutions to poverty and what institutional environments support wealth-creation and poverty reduction. The two-year project was completed in April 2007. Studies covering South Africa’s kombi-taxi industry; the extent to which people have secured title to their properties in Cape Town’s Langa township; the utilisation of modern technology by smallholder farmers in Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal; the effect of the introduction of cellphone technology on the lives, and particularly the businesses, of low-income Botswana citizens; the effects of the establishment of wildlife conservancies on Namibia’s rural communities; and the benefits derived by small farmers in Rwanda from growing coffee and the institutional environment in which they operate have been completed and published. A study on the role of institutions and government policies in bringing about high growth in Mauritius is being prepared for publication.The FMF publicised the studies in South Africa and utilises the findings of the studies to argue for increased economic freedom in South Africa and the rest of the continent and for the creation of an institutional environment that will allow the poor to lift themselves out of poverty.

  SUBMISSIONS: Submission on Policy Regarding Land Ownership by Foreigners in South Africa

  PUBLICATIONS: Economic Freedom of the World – Annual report

• 2008

  ROUNDTABLE Intellectual Property Rights – International Convention Centre, Cape Town, May 14

  
  INDABA IPR policy in the context of South Africa’s growth and development needs – November 26 - read report here; see photos here

  PUBLICATIONS: Economic Freedom of the World – Annual report

  TRIBUTE: In 2008, Michael Jwambi, who won the Free Market Award in 1997, was gunned down. Read his tribute by FMF Director Temba Nolutshungu here

• 2009

  THE ZIMBABWE PAPERS: A positive agenda for Zimbabwean renewal presented to Morgan Tsvangirai prior to his meeting with President Obama. The Papers we drawn up by eight of Africa’s most respected think tanks. Commissioners of the papers included Temba Nolutshungu and Leon Louw. Read more here; read the Papers here

  
  WINNER: FMF was a Templeton Freedom Award winner in the category Free market solutions to poverty. The award was specifically for Eustace Davie's book Jobs for the jobless: Special exemption certificates for the unemployed, which proposes a workable solution to South Africa’s mass unemployment problem. One of the judges had this to say about Jobs for the jobless: “One single idea can be much more powerful than one thousand actions and this is a perfect example” - read more here

  Q  QUARTERLY REVIEWs: March ||||| June ||||| September ||||| December
  

  
  LAND REFORM: Going nowhere slowly in Alexandra - read more here; see photos here
  Communal Land Rights Act (CLARA): Temba Nolutshungu and Laura Grube interviewed traditional leaders and government officials in the Eastern Cape to see how CLaRA, if implemented, would affect rural communities.  The legislation provides for the transfer of title in communal land to the communities and for land rights to be documented and registered in the deeds registry.
  Makuleke Project: This joint project between the FMF and Mercatus Centre completed a draft of the Makuleke land restitution story. The Makuleke are an example of how private property rights can create an incentive for communities to care for the natural environment. The Makuleke community was awarded property rights within Kruger National Park and have used the land to develop ecotourism. 

  
  INDABA Innovation, economic growth and job creation: The role of intellectual property rights – November 19-20 - read more here; see photos here

  SUBMISSIONS: Submission on Eskom’s Multi Year Price Determination MYPD3

  PUBLICATIONS: Economic Freedom of the World – Annual report ||||| Fixing famine: How technology and incentives can help feed Africa – Jasson Urbach ||||| Paying for intervention: How statutory intervention harms South African health care – Jasson Urbach

• 2010

  
  New LOGO unveiled at FMF's 35th anniversary dinner

  WINNER: The Atlas Economic Research Foundation, Washington DC, announced on Monday, 1 February 2010, that it had awarded the 2010 Freda Utley Prize for Advancing Liberty  to the FMF - read more here

  
  WINNER: Leon Louw, FMF Executive Director, awarded Paul Harris Rotary International Unsung Heroes Award - see photos here

  Q  QUARTERLY REVIEWs: March ||||| June ||||| September ||||| December

  ROUNDTABLE Intellectual Property Rights – April 29 - see invite here; see report here

  
  INDABA Innovation and entrepreneurship: The role of intellectual property rights – Johannesburg, November 26 - read report here; see photos here

  SUBMISSIONS: Submission on Traditional Knowledge Bill ||||| Submission on Integrated Resource Plan 2

  PUBLICATIONS: Economic Freedom of the World – Annual report

• 2011

  Q  QUARTERLY REVIEWs: March ||||| June ||||| September ||||| December

  
  ROUNDTABLE on Reducing software piracy: Good for business, good for growth, March 24 - see invitation here; see report here; see photos here

  COLLOQUIUM on Government’s software procurement policy, April 19 - read report here
  Read Constitutionality of the South African state’s software procurement “policy” by Robert Vivian here.
  Read The desirability of FOSS procurement by Leon Louw here.

  COLLOQUIUM on Publicly financed research, May 25 - read report here
  Read The new IPR regime for publicly financed research – a question of balance by Dhesigen Naidoo here.

  
  ROUNDTABLE on Competition policy, June 30 - read report here; see photos here
  Read Constitutionality of South Africa’s competition policy by Robert Vivian here. Read The economics of competition policy by Rachel Jafta & Johann van Eeden here.

  
  ROUNDTABLE on Cloud computing for accelerated growth in sub-Saharan Africa, September 29 - see report here; see photos here
  Read The Economic impact of cloud computing in South Africa by Mike Schussler and Jasson Urbach here.

  SUBMISSIONS: Submission on Basic Conditions of Employment Act|||||Submission on Employment Equity Act ||||| Submission on Employment Services Bill ||||| Submission on Labour Relations Act ||||| Submission on Independent System and Market Operator Bill ||||| Submission on Walmart Massmart LRP ||||| Submission on Walmart Massmart ||||| Submission on Green Paper on Land Reform ||||| Submission on Green Paper on Land Reform LRP ||||| Submission on National Health Insurance Green Paper

  PUBLICATIONS: Economic Freedom of the World – Annual report ||||| Jobs Jobs Jobs – Temba Nolutshungu (editor) ||||| Nationalisation – Temba Nolutshungu (editor)

  
  CONFERENCE on Unlocking the electricity transmission grid: An independent system and market operator for South Africa - with five overseas speakers, June 9 - see provisional invite here; see photos here

• 2012

  Q  QUARTERLY REVIEWs: March ||||| June ||||| September ||||| December
  

  
  CHAIRMAN: Businessman Herman Mashaba served as chairman of the FMF's board between 2012 and 2014. He stepped down when he joined the Democratic Alliance as the FMF is politically neutral. 

  SUBMISSIONS: Submission on B-BBEE Bill||||| Submission on National Energy Regulator Amendment Bill ||||| Submission on Electricity Legislation Second Amendment Bill ||||| Submission on Special Economic Zones ||||| Submission on Independent System and Market Operator Bill ||||| Submissions on National Development Plan to National Planning Commission (see below contents)||||| Submission on Regulations Relating to Smoking in Public Places ||||| Submission on Draft Tobacco Regulations LRP ||||| Submission on Electricity Distribution Industry ||||| Submission on MYPD 3 Application to Nersa ||||| Submission on Tobacco Display Regulations LRP ||||| Submission on Tobacco Display Regulations 

  SUBMISSIONS - NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN: Overview | Chapter 2 – DEMOGRAPHIC TRENDS: Black advancement in: The public sector, the JSE and insurance; The banking sector; The professional sector; Income levels; Education enrolment | Chapter 3 – ECONOMY AND EMPLOYMENT: Submission: Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA); Submission: Employment Equity Act (EEA); Submission: Employment Services Bill; Submission: Labour Relations Act (LRA); Local government privatisation paper; Submission:  Special economic zones policy & Bill | Chapter 4 – ECONOMIC INFRASTRUCTURE (ELECTRICITY): Submission: Independent System and Market Operator Draft Bill; Submission: National Energy Regulator Amendment Bill; Submission: Electricity Legislation Second Amendment Bill | Chapter 8 – HUMAN SETTLEMENTS: Submission by LRP: Green Paper on Land Reform; Submission by FMF: Green Paper on Land Reform | Chapter 9 – IMPROVING EDUCATION, INNOVATION AND TRAINING | Chapter 10 – PROMOTING HEALTH: Submission: National Health Insurance Green Paper | Chapter 12 – BUILDING SAFER COMMUNITIES | Chapter 13 – BUILDING A CAPABLE STATE | Chapter 14 – PROMOTING ACCOUNTABILITY AND FIGHTING CORRUPTION: 1995 Submissions to the Constitutional Assembly; 2000 Submissions to the Constitutional Review Committee | Chapter 14 (cont.) – STRENGTHEN JUDICIAL GOVERNANCE AND THE RULE OF LAW ||||| Submission to National Planning Commission on Building Safer Communities ||||| Submission to National Planning Commission on Economy and Employment 

  PUBLICATIONS: Economic Freedom of the World – Annual report
  

• 2013

  
  KHAYA LAM (My Home) Land Reform Project: Ngwathe title deed presentation - the first 100!, 22 October - see photos here
  

  
  The first FMF LUMINARY AWARD recipient was Dr Yuri Maltsev “…for his tireless dedication to upholding liberty and the inspiration he brings to the people whose lives he touches” - watch the video here

  
  The second FMF LUMINARY AWARD  recipient was The Most Reverend Dr Thabo C Makgoba “…for his lifelong dedication to all the peoples of South Africa and for ceaselessly demonstrating the highest level of integrity” - watch the video here

  The third FMF LUMINARY AWARD recipient was Dr Pauline Dixon “…for her dedication to researching and tirelessly promoting practical solutions to schooling challenges and education entrepreneurship in low-income communities” - watch the video here

  The fourth FMF LUMINARY AWARD recipient was Dr Sam Motsuenyane “…for outstanding individual enterprise excellence and leadership, consistently demonstrated over many decades in overcoming adversity and inspiring the people of South Africa” - watch the video here

  Q  QUARTERLY REVIEWs: June ||||| December

  
  COLLOQUIUM on Potential economic impact of cloud technology on emerging markets and the importance of the policy and regulatory environment, Johannesburg, June 12 - see invitation here; see photos here

  
  COLLOQUIUM on Potential economic impact of cloud technology on emerging markets and the importance of the policy and regulatory environment, Cape Town, June 13 - see invitation here; see photos here

  TRIBUTE to Nelson Mandela who passed away 5 December 2013 - read Lest we forget here
  

  SUBMISSIONS: Oral Evidence on MYPD 3 Application to Nersa ||||| Submission on Licensing of Businesses Bill LRP ||||| Submission on Licensing of Businesses Bill ||||| Submission on Financial Services Laws General Amendment Bill LRP – may have sensitive info ||||| Submission on Expropriation Bill ||||| Submission on Licensing of Businesses Bill SUBSEQUENT – may have sensitive info ||||| Submission on Carbon Tax Policy Paper to National Treasury ||||| Submission on Mineral and Energy Resources Development Amendment Bill ||||| Submission on Financial Services Laws General Amendment Bill SUBSEQUENT – may have sensitive info ||||| Submission on Intellectual Property Policy ||||| Submission on Regulation of the Planning Profession Act |||||| Submission on Draft 2012 Integrated Energy Planning Report     

  PUBLICATIONS: Economic Freedom of the World – Annual report

   Evening events & media briefings (with video links):
  Lessons from the Soviet Union – the savagery of socialism – Dr Yuri Maltsev ||||| Why the ANC could lose the 2024 election: An analysis of South Africa in 2013 and beyond – Frans Cronje ||||| Batting for the unemployed: Free Market Foundation challenges constitutionality of Labour Relations Act – Herman Mashaba, Jonathan Goldberg & Neil Rankin ||||| Searching for Seritiman – where is the arms deals inquiry going? – Paul Hoffman ||||| Open skies and black holes: Open skies, competition and a level playing field: What happened to government plans for SAA? – Leon Louw ||||| Government should abandon symbolic gestures and leave the nanny-state to Mary Poppins – Leon Louw ||||| The FMF’s constitutional challenge to a section of the Labour Relations Act (LRA): “Just let me work” – the voice of the unemployed – Craig Kirchmann & Herman Mashaba ||||| A GIANT LEAP in economic time – Dawie Roodt ||||| New business licensing law will cripple the economy’s job creating engine: the SME sector: DTI arguments in favour are already covered by existing laws – just enforce them – Edmund Elias & Leon Louw ||||| Integrity in leadership – Dr Thabo Cecil Makgoba ||||| Solving SA’s power crisis: Bring in independent power producers (IPPs) – Eustace Davie ||||| Georgia: The story of an extraordinary transformation – Ambassador Beka Dvali ||||| The 2013 Expropriation Bill is better but still bad... – Dr Anthea Jeffery ||||| Reality check: Update on SA’s labour market – Loane Sharp

• 2014

  
  The fifth FMF LUMINARY AWARD recipient was Advocate George Bizos “…for his fearless defence of South Africa’s struggle heroes, his tenacious fight for freedom and justice and his dedication to upholding the constitution and the rule of law” - watch the video here

  
  The sixth FMF LUMINARY AWARD recipient was Dr Richard Maponya “…for his outstanding entrepreneurial achievement and leadership as a self-made businessman under the almost impossible conditions of apartheid and being a beacon of hope for aspiring young South African entrepreneurs” - watch the video here

  The seventh FMF LUMINARY AWARD recipient was Raymond Ackerman “…in recognition of his role as a great entrepreneur who followed his dream and changed retailing in South Africa for the lasting benefit of all consumers” - watch the video here

  WINNER: FMF ranked once again among the top think tanks in the world in the 2013 Global Go To Think Tank Index ... listed 94 out of the 4,998 non-US Think Tanks, 119 out of the total of 6,826 worldwide Think Tanks (including those in the United States) and 22 out of the 612 Think Tanks in Sub-Saharan Africa - read more here

  Q  QUARTERLY REVIEWs: March 

  
  COLLOQUIUM on Driving innovation and unleashing the power of cloud computing, March 14; hosted by The Innovation Hub - see invitation here

  SUBMISSIONS:  Submission on BEPS to Davis Tax Committee ||||| Submission on Macro to Davis Tax Committee ||||| Submission on Draft Financial Sector Regulation Bill ||||| Submission on Integrated Resource Plan ||||| Submission on Small Business to Davis Tax Committee ||||| Submission on Medicines and Related Substances Amendment Bill ||||| Submission on VAT to Davis Tax Committee ||||| Submission on the 2nd Draft Demarcation Regulations

  PUBLICATIONS: Economic Freedom of the World – Annual report

   Evening events & media briefings (with video links):  
  Banish South Africa’s mass unemployment: The free market is the only way – Dr Yuri Maltsev ||||| Politicians are the employees of the voters – Jim Powell ||||| The role of the Rule of Law in safeguarding our new democracy – Judge Johann Kriegler ||||| Energy plan ignores official government policy – Doug Kuni ||||| Property rights and economic growth – Yuri Maltsev ||||| The economics of inequality – Vivian Atud & Leon Louw ||||| The regulated consumer – Leon Louw & Thami Bolani ||||| South Africa, like Mauritius, should adopt a low flat rate tax system – Eustace Davie ||||| The elusive rainbow: A tribute to Nelson Mandela – Temba Nolutshungu & Jasson Urbach ||||| Can anthropology explain regulation/discrimination? – Michael Leube ||||| Launch of 2014 Economic Freedom of the World Report – Eustace Davie ||||| The next 10 years: An economist’s perspective – Dawie Roodt ||||| The next decades – the effect of a burgeoning black middle class – Loane Sharp ||||| DTI’s Intellectual Property Draft Policy: facts, uncertainties and implication – David Cochrane

• 2015

  WINNER: The Inaugural Forging Enterprise Small Business Promotion Pioneer Awards awarded to the FMF in the category “Small business advocacy”. FMF citation: “… Throughout its history, which spans nearly forty years, the FMF has fought more resolutely and consistently than any other role player for the rights of small business enterprises in South Africa. The FMF continues to advocate for the removal of bureaucratic shackles, which prevent small businesses from entering, and effectively competing, against larger established businesses and for a more just dispensation for small business …” - read more here

  WINNER: FMF’s Khaya Lam project was one of six finalists for the 2015 Templeton Freedom Award. FMF directors Eustace Davie and Temba Nolutshungu attended the award presentation at a gala dinner held on 12 November in New York City - read more here

  
  KHAYA LAM (My Home) Land Reform Project: Ngwathe title deed presentation, 15 April - read more here; see photos here
  Two hundred and fifty people gathered in the Barnard Molokoane School hall in Tumahole, Ngwathe to witness tenants of 156 municipal houses collect tradable freehold title deeds to their homes, making them property owners for the first time in their lives.

  KHAYA LAM (My Home) Land Reform Project: Mrs Maria Mothupi at last receives a title deed (Ngwathe), 7 May - read more here; see photos here

  KHAYA LAM (My Home) Land Reform Project: Ngwathe title deed presentation, 22 September - read more here; see photos here

  KHAYA LAM (My Home) Land Reform Project: Theewaterskloof title deed presentation, 23 October - read more here; see photos here

  COURT CASE: FMF brought a case against the City of Johannesburg and the Johannesburg Metropolitan Department. While these matters were pending, the City of Johannesburg commenced “Operation Clean Sweep” whereby all informal traders were prohibited from trading within the city, which was enforced by the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department. Urgent court proceedings were launched in the High Court in terms of which SANTRA and the South African Informal Traders Forum (SAITF) sought a review of the decisions taken by the City to: (a) demolish existing stalls erected by the City for the use of informal traders and which had been leased by SANTRA’s members for that purpose; (b) relocate informal traders from the Johannesburg CBD; and (c) declare certain areas in the CBD restricted or prohibited for the purposes of informal trading. The High Court dismissed the urgent applications and the matter was taken to the Constitutional Court, which heard the appeal and granted interim relief allowing 2,000 traders to return to their original trading spots. Read more here

  Q  QUARTERLY REVIEWs: September ||||| December
  

  SUBMISSIONS: Submission on National Liquor Policy LRP ||||| Submission on National Liquor Policy ||||| Submission on BEPS to Davis Tax Committee ||||| Submission on Macro Analysis to Davis Tax Committee ||||| Submission on Estate Duty to Davis Tax Committee ||||| Submission on VAT to Davis Tax Committee ||||| Submission on Proposed Amendments to Regulation 8 Prescribed Minimum Benefits ||||| Submission on Ombud and Sectional Title ||||| Submission on Extension of Bargaining Council Agreements to Small Hairdressers ||||| Submission on Financial Sector Regulation Bill 

  PUBLICATIONS: Economic Freedom of the World – Annual report

  LAND REFORM: Success in Alexandra (or so we thought) (see also Going nowhere slowly in 2009 above). After 20 years striving for justice for property "owners" in Alex, progress - read more here

  PRESENTATION: On October 6 FMF Director Eustace Davie presented Establishing a market for electricity at the distribution level to the Association of Municipal Electricity Utilities (AMEU). He compared New Zealand’s consumer-oriented distribution system to that of South Africa’s. In some areas of NZ consumers can choose between nine or more competing brands and can switch suppliers in under 24 hours. He recommended SA implement the White Paper drafted in 1998 which proposes competition in generation, access to the transmission system and freedom of choice to customers.

   Evening events & media briefings (with video links):  
  Magna Carta vs bureaucratic regulators: The return of the Sheriffs of Nottingham – Prof Robert Vivian ||||| The end of land discrimination – Leon Louw ||||| Ideas matter – how our attitudes about wealth shape the prosperity we get – Matt Warner ||||| The decline of the rule of law in South Africa – Leon Louw ||||| Why winners choose free markets – Herman Mashaba ||||| Economic freedoms of South Africa – Herman Mashaba ||||| Consumer rights slip sliding away – Leon Louw ||||| State of the Nation Address – Leon Louw ||||| 30 years of centralised bureaucratic failure – Prof Robert Vivian ||||| Economic Freedom of the World 2015 Annual Report – LAUNCH Jnb – Temba Nolutshungu & Eustace Davie ||||| Economic Freedom of the World 2015 Annual Report – LAUNCH Ctn – Temba Nolutshungu & Ineng ||||| The world we live in (youth event) – Dawie Roodt ||||| Why YOU should stand up for tobacco (it’s controversial we know) – Francois van der Merwe, Jeremy Sampson & Temba Nolutshungu ||||| Some of the unintended consequences of the European welfare state – Prof Kurt Leube ||||| Labour: How good intentions often lead to economic sabotage – Dawie Roodt ||||| The DTI’s soon to be finalised “Investment Bill” should be rewritten – Dr Anthea Jeffery ||||| Twin Peaks – a disaster in the making – Prof Robert Vivian & Leon Louw ||||| The second watershed – Chris Hart

• 2016

  The eighth FMF LUMINARY AWARD recipient was Johan Norberg “…for providing a better understanding of our world, especially the science of happiness and intelligence, and which conditions promote global liberty, prosperity and financial stability” - watch the video here

  The ninth FMF LUMINARY AWARD recipient was Dr Reuel J Khoza “…for being a business leader with the courage to speak truth to power by taking a consistent and principled stand against poor policy, corruption and incompetence in government, and for championing the cause of good governance” - watch the video here

  COURT CASE: The Labour Relations Act allows for bargaining council agreements, reached usually between big unions and big business, to be extended to non-parties to those agreements. FMF believes this to be unconstitutional and launched a legal challenge on 4 March 2013 which was heard in the high court in February 2016. Please note: The FMF did not challenge the constitutionality of bargaining council agreements entered into between labour unions and employer representatives. It challenged agreements entered into between private parties (large unions and employers) being extended to non-participating employees and their employers. And it did so on behalf of the unemployed. Our campaign was called “Just let me work”. FMF celebrated having lost superficially and won substantively. More people earn zero than any other wage; more are in the jobless sector than in any other sector. That is why the FMF launched its constitutional case against a single word in the Labour Relations Act (LRA). It asked the court to declare unconstitutional the provision that the minister of labour “must” do what private bargaining councils tell her to do. Read more here and here

  
  KHAYA LAM (My Home) Land Reform Project: Ngwathe title deed presentation, 10 February - see photos here

  
  KHAYA LAM (My Home) Land Reform Project: Nomzamo title deed presentation, 20 June - read more here; see photos here

  
  KHAYA LAM (My Home) Land Reform Project: Ngwathe title deed presentation, 11 October, sponsor: Rising Tide Foundation - see photos here

  Q  QUARTERLY REVIEWs: March ||||| June
  

  SUBMISSIONS: Submission on National Health Insurance White Paper ||||| Oral Evidence on Mining Sector Job Losses ||||| Submission on NHIs Proposed Funding Options ||||| Submission on Draft Liquor Amendment Bill JOINT ||||| Submission on Draft Liquor Amendment Bill LRP ||||| Submission on Draft Liquor Amendment Bill ||||| Submission on NHIs Proposed Funding Options ||||| Oral Evidence on National Minimum Wage to NMW Panel – confidential meeting notes

  SUBMISSIONS - HIGH LEVEL PANEL: Submission on Basic Conditions of Employment Act to High Level Panel ||||| Submission on Black Economic Empowerment to High Level Panel ||||| Submission on Education Policy to High Level Panel ||||| Submission on Electricity Act and National Energy Regulator Act to High Level Panel ||||| Submission on Electricity (Overview) to High Level Panel ||||| Submission on Expropriation (Act) to High Level Panel ||||| Submission on Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act to High Level Panel ||||| Submission on Labour Relations Act to High Level Panel ||||| Submission on Land Reform (Overview) to High Level Panel ||||| Submission on Medical Schemes Act to High Level Panel ||||| Submission on National Health Act to High Level Panel ||||| Submission on Rule of Law Founding Provision in Constitution to High Level Panel ||||| Submission on Special Economic Zones Act to High Level Panel ||||| Submission on Tax to High Level Panel ||||| Submission on Value Added Tax on Medical Products to High Level Panel 

  PUBLICATIONS: Economic Freedom of the World – Annual report

  In September, FMF director, Jasson Urbach, was selected to participate in the Atlas Network’s most prestigious training programme: The THINK TANK MBA (TTMBA). The TTMBA programme was held in Miami, Florida, and is the Atlas Leadership Academy’s flagship, a 10-day strategic planning programme for leaders within new and established think tanks. Participants draft a strategic plan for their organisation, gain customised leadership advice, and compete in a Campaign Challenge and the John Blundell Elevator Pitch Competition. Jasson Urbach’s elevator pitch on the FMF’s Khaya Lam Land Reform Project earned him 3rd place.

   Evening events & media briefings (with video links):
  A global assault on liberty – Dr Yuri Maltsev ||||| NHI proposals spell unmitigated disaster for SA healthcare and economy – Jasson Urbach ||||| Labour Law Challenge – The facts behind the FMF's labour law case – Herman Mashaba, Craig Kirchmann & Leon Louw ||||| Liberal way out and up – John Kane-Berman ||||| NHI – paying more and getting less – Dr Chris Archer & Dr Johann Serfontein ||||| Dangerous Law: What the Zuma, Pistorius and Afriforum judgements have in common – Leon Louw ||||| Price controls kill jobs and weaken the economy – Dawie Roodt ||||| Minimum legal drinking age – will raising it reduce or increase crime? – Lawrence Mavundla ||||| If Plain Packaging is OK for tobacco, why not for the things YOU love? – Leon Louw ||||| Socio Economic Impact Assessments – Leon Louw ||||| South Africa does have a good news story – why does government hide it? – Mike Schüssler ||||| Major shifts in the corporate world and the Sustainable Development Goals – Mervyn King ||||| Twin Peaks – Treasury’s SEIA study does not support the Bill – Robert Vivian ||||| Where does South Africa rank this year? at the worldwide launch of the Economic Freedom of the World: 2016 Annual Report – Neil Emerick ||||| Free speech: A vanishing right – Mark Oppenheimer ||||| How best to add to the 9 MILLION unemployed? Introduce a National Minimum Wage – Leon Louw ||||| Options better than the NHI – Anthea Jeffery ||||| Amplifying entrepreneurship in the township context: Opportunities and constraints – Andrew Charman ||||| Data should stand – at least until the facts are known #DATAfacts vs #DataMustFall – Leon Louw ||||| Nationalisation in disguise – should government fix prices? – Ivo Vegter

• 2017

  
  Africa Liberty Forum, co-hosted by Atlas Network and Free Market Foundation, brought together friends of the freedom movement from across Africa to discuss challenges facing the region and to learn from one another how to most effectively advance free-market reforms. Held from May 24-25, the Forum focused on how to strengthen civil society and move public policy in the direction of greater freedom. Read more here; see photos here

  WINNER: At a gala dinner, the Atlas Network announced the winner of the Africa Liberty Award … FMF for its Khaya Lam project; Regional Liberty Awards celebrate the most successful projects by Atlas Network partners

  
  WINNER: On 4 November 2017, in the Artscape Opera House in Cape Town, the Impumelelo Social Innovations Centre, in partnership with the Distell Development Trust, announced that a Panel of Judges had selected the FMF’s Khaya Lam (My Home) Land Reform Project as a PLATINUM Award Winner 2017! The Impumelelo Social Innovations Centre, for 17 years, has promoted initiatives in civil society that improve the quality of life of the poor in exceptional ways. Awards are made on rigorous evaluations, uncovering what is good and what works in South Africa. See photos here

  TRIBUTE: Ketumile Masire: FMF was saddened to hear of the death of statesman Sir Ketumile Masire, president of Botswana from 1980 to 1998. Masire is widely credited with transforming Botswana’s economy, and promoting democracy and inclusivity. Sir Ketumile Masire was the recipient of the FMF’s 2000 Free Market Award for his “exceptional contribution to the cause of economic freedom”, presented in April 2001 at an event attended by Nelson Mandela. Extract from his 2001 acceptance speech: “This is the time to demonstrate to the world that, as fellow Africans, we are capable of working together so that we can all enjoy peace, freedom and dignity” - read more here

  SUBMISSIONS: Submission on Hate Speech Bill ||||| Submission on Financial Services Board Conduct of Business Report ||||| Submission on Regulation of Agricultural Holdings Bill ||||| Submission on Macro Issues and the Flat Tax to Davis Tax Committee ||||| Submission on proposed Land Tax and Value of Property Tax to Davis Tax Committee ||||| Submission on proposed Wealth Tax to Davis Tax Committee ||||| Submission on Copyright Amendment Bill ||||| Submission on Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act ||||| Submission on Communal Land Tenure Bill ||||| Submissions on latest drafts of Schedules 1 and 3 to Insurance Bill, 2016 ||||| Submission to the Department of Basic Education on the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill ||||| Submission on the Draft Intellectual Property Policy of the Republic of South Africa – Phase 1 ||||| Submission to the National Treasury on the “A Known and Trusted Ombud System for All” Consultation Policy Document ||||| Submission on National Health Insurance Implementation Structures ||||| Submission to the Department of Trade and Industry on the Copyright Amendment Bill, 2017

  PUBLICATIONS: Economic Freedom of the World – Annual report ||||| The real digital divide: South Africa’s Information and Communication Technologies policy – Martin van Staden & Neil Emerick

  Leon Louw submitted to the terrible tyranny of a weekly column in Business Day from October 2012 through August 2017 – see the list of 211 columns here. In each of his columns, Leon defended something contrarian by presenting little-known facts, compelling arguments and insights. His column was often the most popular item in Business Day on any given day.

  Q  QUARTERLY REVIEWs: March ||||| June ||||| September ||||| December 

  
  KHAYA LAM (My Home) Land Reform Project: Theewaterskloof title deed presentation, 25 July - see photos here
  

  
  KHAYA LAM (My Home) Land Reform Project: Ngwathe title deed presentation, 19 September. The photo above is of Mrs Motsoane, age 92, receiving her title deed from Mayor Joey Mochela. See photos here

  
  KHAYA LAM (My Home) Land Reform Project: Kwakwatsi title deed presentation, 4 October - read more here; see photos here

   Evening events & media briefings (with video links): 
  Trump’s economics, Putin-Trump relationship and state of the US economy – Yuri Maltsev ||||| ICT policy will set back SA's ICT development by decades – Dobek Pater & Leon Louw ||||| ICT policy will set back SA's ICT development by decades – Adrian Schofield & Leon Louw ||||| From ridicule to prison: Nowhere to hide from the Hate Speech Bill – Rex van Schalkwyk ||||| Internet access and free speech – Gareth Cliff ||||| Private healthcare on receiving end of toxic drip treatment – Michael Settas & Patrick Bracher ||||| Land reform without expropriation – Terry Markman, Perry Feldman & Leon Louw ||||| Is the state stoking racial tensions as a diversionary tactic? – Mark Oppenheimer ||||| Radical economic transformation – Leon Louw ||||| The secret of China’s Success – innovation and entrepreneurship – Dr Martyn Davies ||||| The virtual future – an economist’s perspective – Dawie Roodt ||||| Twin Peaks – health warning – Prof Robert Vivian & Leon Louw ||||| NHI Pie in the Sky – Dr Johann Serfontein & Jasson Urbach ||||| South Africa: Failing economy, life after the downgrade; a Venezimbabwe scorecard – Russell Lamberti ||||| Time for South Africans to live and let live – Temba Nolutshungu ||||| Want economic growth? Repeal bad law! – Garreth Bloor ||||| Will South Africa crash and burn? – Neil Emerick ||||| Threats to food security – Jannie de Villiers ||||| Common myths about nuclear – Knox Msebenzi ||||| SAA: The facts beyond the hype – Leon Louw ||||| Paths to prosperity: Lessons for a six-pack solution – Dr Adrian Saville ||||| New law guaranteed to raise price of data and limit internet access – Leon Louw

• 2018

  
  KHAYA LAM (My Home) Land Reform Project: Stellenbosch title deed presentation, 16 January - read more here; see photos here
  

  
  KHAYA LAM (My Home) Land Reform Project: Ngwathe title deed presentation, 7 February - read more here; see photos here
  

  
  KHAYA LAM (My Home) Land Reform Project: Vukuzenzele title deed presentation, 21 March - see photos here

  
  KHAYA LAM (My Home) Land Reform Project: Ngwathe title deed presentation, 11 July - see photos here

  
  KHAYA LAM (My Home) Land Reform Project: historic Memorandum of Understanding signed in Mkuze, 31 July - read more here; see photos here

  
  KHAYA LAM (My Home) Land Reform Project: Mokwallo title deed presentation, 26 September. Dr Bart Kurek, an avid supporter of Khaya Lam, and a Mason, was the driving force behind 34 (of 45) title deeds that were sponsored by him and the Freemasons. Bart is married to Sheila who comes from the Philippines. Her family was dispossessed of their property and received no compensation; they were left on the street. Sheila has a special bond with Khaya Lam and encourages patients in their practice to contribute. Mrs Makoatse – the caterer who supplied the tea and cookies – had started baking at 3 in the morning to have fresh cookies for the function! Read more here; see photos here

  
  KHAYA LAM (My Home) Land Reform Project: Kwakwatsi title deed presentation, 4 October - read more here; see photos here

  
  KHAYA LAM (My Home) Land Reform Project: Vredefort title deed presentation, 23 October - read more here; see photos here 

  

  KHAYA LAM (My Home) Land Reform Project: Tumahole title deed presentation, 4 November. The title deeds presented were sponsored by Nedbank. There was a large contingent of Nedbank personnel present, including Greg Salter, Head of Home Loans. One Nedbank Branch Manager who attended “under orders”, became so emotional during the presentation that for him it was a life-changing experience. Recipients included Mr Vanderwendre, born in 1925, and Mrs Mohlatsi, born in 1934... - read more here; see photos here

  
  KHAYA LAM (My Home) Land Reform Project: Aberdeen title deed presentation, 16 November. 70 residents of the Karoo town of Aberdeen walked into the presentation hall as tenants and out as home owners, with full freehold title made possible by the generosity of businessman Johann Rupert and his wife Gaynor who are significant sponsors of the FMF's Khaya Lam project... - read more here; see photos here

  
  KHAYA LAM (My Home) Land Reform Project: Grabouw title deed presentation, 28 November. 76 title deeds were presented in the Groenberg School Hall. 97% of the recipients attended. Khaya Lam is proud to be sponsored in Grabouw by Two -a - Day and the Elgin Trust, both of which are heavily involved in the local community through their support of education. Mayor Christelle Vosloo emphasised how title deeds empower people. Read more here; see photos here 

  
  
  KHAYA LAM (My Home) Land Reform Project: Hillview title deed presentation, 29 November. Although few in numbers the impact, as always, was the same, with much emotion from the recipients who have struggled for years to have their titles formalised. These were not normal transfers but rectifications – through bureaucratic bungling in the past, people were allocated the wrong houses while staying in the correct houses. This can only be unwound by public/private intervention. The rectifications were funded by Dr Christo Wiese. Read more here; see photos here

  
  
  KHAYA LAM (My Home) Land Reform Project: Stellenbosch title deed presentation, 3 December. Our biggest ever presentation – 326 title deeds. Leon spoke about the difference between beneficiaries  and recipients; the people present were not beneficiaries but recipients of rights that had been removed 105 years ago. Johann Rupert, the sponsor, spoke of the fact that he was brought up to remember where he came from. Both his father and mother were children of the depression. In the late-80s when he started understanding the terrible disadvantage that black entrepreneurs laboured under, he and his father established the SBDT – Small Business Development Trust. What he and his wife, Gaynor, were doing in handing over title deeds was merely perpetuating what was started then. Righting a historic wrong! Mayor Gesie van Deventer spoke about her determination to wipe out the title deed backlog that she had inherited... - read more here; see photos here

  
  
  KHAYA LAM (My Home) Land Reform Project: Tumahole title deed presentation, 18 December. 65 title deeds presented in the Mosipedi Hall in Tumahole, Parys. Rising Tide Foundation sponsored 48 of the 65. Other sponsors: Theresa Emerick, Gerhard Visagie, Henrik Borelius… - read more here; see photos here  

  Q  QUARTERLY REVIEWs: March ||||| June ||||| September ||||| December

  
  TRIBUTE: To Winnie Madikizela-Mandela who wrote in her 1987 foreword to South Africa: The Solution by Leon Louw and Frances Kendall: “Here lies the drug to coagulate the blood of the bleeding nation…” - read more here

  
  On August 8, Property Rights Alliance & Free Market Foundation hosted the GLOBAL LAUNCH of the International Property Rights Index 2018. On property rights South Africa was ranked 27th overall and 1st in the African region. However, South Africa's score declined by 0.65 from 7,00 in 2017 to 6,35 in 2018. This is the largest decline by any country measured in the index. With the dramatic decline in its score, South Africa is now ranked 37th overall and 2nd in the region behind Rwanda. Read more here; see photos here.

  
  
  Temba Nolutshungu spoke at this year's annual LIBERTY FORUM in New York. The forum brings together freedom champions to exchange ideas and share strategies.

  
  On 20- 21 November, FMF hosted a CONFERENCE on Security of Property Rights, dealing with case studies from Venezuela, Africa, India, Europe and Asia, and how to achieve land reform without expropriation without compensation (EWC). Speakers were: Leon Louw | Executive Director, FMF ||| María Corina Machado | Former Member of the National Assembly & Presidential Candidate ||| Sary Levy Carciente | Member of the National Academy of Economic Sciences & responsible for calculation and analysis of International Property Rights Index, Property Rights Alliance ||| Barun Mitra | Independent researcher and analyst & founder of Liberty Institute ||| Rejoice Ngwenya (Zimbabwe) | Founder and Executive Director, Coalition for Market and Liberal Solutions ||| Olumayowa Okediran (Nigeria) | Assistant Director of International Programs, Students For Liberty ||| Franklin Cudjoe (Ghana) | Founding President and Chief Executive Officer, IMANI Centre for Policy and Education ||| Penuell Maduna | Former Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development ||| Linda Kavuka (Kenya) | Advocate of the High Court of Kenya & African Programs Manager, Students For Liberty ||| Aimable Manirakiza (Burundi) | Founder and Chief Executive Director, Centre for Development and Enterprises Great Lakes ||| Tom Palmer | George M Yeager Chair for Advancing Liberty & Executive Vice President for International Programs, Atlas Network ||| Lawrence Mavundla | President, National African Federated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Nafcoc) & African Co-operative for Hawkers and Informal Business (Achib) ||| Temba Nolutshungu | Director, FMF ||| Maria Klaas & David Ubane | First time home owners, Ngwathe ||| Eustace Davie | Director, FMF ||| Candice Pillay | Attorney and Partner, Hogan Lovells ||| Martin van Staden | Legal Researcher, FMF ||| Devon Windvogel | Lecturer, School of Accounting, Economics and Finance, UKZN ||| Terence Corrigan | Policy Fellow, Institute of Race Relations ||| Petrus Sitho | Full time activist for property rights ||| Phephelaphi Dube | Director, Centre for Constitutional Rights. For full report with key themes, media coverage and more, see here; for photos see here; for videos playlist see here

  PUBLICATIONS: Economic Freedom of the World - Annual report

  SUBMISSIONS: Submission on Electronic Communications Amendment Bill ||||| Submission on Catering Industry Bargaining Council ||||| Submission on the Competition Amendment Bill ||||| Submission on draft Amendments to FAIS Codes of Conduct ||||| Submission on End-user and Subscriber Service Charter Regulations ||||| Submission on the National Minimum Wage Bill ||||| Submission on Labour Relations Amendment Bill ||||| Submission on the Johannesburg Inclusionary Housing Policy ||||| Submission on BBBEE Codes ||||| Submission on Political Party Funding Bill ||||| Submission on Expropriation without Compensation ||||| Submission on the National Minimum Wage Bill draft regulations ||||| Submission on Climate Change Bill ||||| Submission on Tobacco Bill and SEIA ||||| Comment on SA Reserve Bank Amendment Bill ||||| Submission on National Health Insurance Bill ||||| Submission on Medical Schemes Amendment Bill ||||| Draft Financial Sector Laws Amendment Bill ||||| Integrated Resource Plan ||||| Economic Regulation of Transport Bill ||||| Eskom’s Revenue Application Multi-Year Price Determination – 2019/20 to 2021/22 (MYPD 4)

  Leon Louw | Phumlani Majozi | Dawie Roodt
  
   Evening events & media briefings (with video links):
  Failure to respect constitutional rights causes mass unemployment – Eustace Davie ||||| The law, trade unions and economic growth – what role do they play in job creation? – Frans Rautenbach ||||| What is Oxfam's real agenda? It's no pro-poor – Leon Louw ||||| The final countdown: How to survive this awful budget – Dawie Roodt ||||| FAIS the harbinger of things to come: A glimpse of the new world which beckons under Twin Peaks – Robert Vivian & Leon Louw ||||| New research - history of strong African entrepreneurship held back by powerful constraints – Grietjie Verhoef ||||| The ECA Bill* will be a disaster for South Africa – Adrian Schofield & Leon Louw ||||| Expropriation without compensation – Betrayal of the struggle – Temba Nolutshungu & Terence Corrigan ||||| Are you free to be you? A talk on individual freedom and identity politics – Cecelia Kok ||||| Violation of the Rule of Law gave SA the Guptas and Zuma corruption – Rex van Schalkwyk ||||| OUTA: From toll boycott to anti-tax abuse organisation – Wayne Duvenage ||||| Impact assessment on the introduction of LCBOs – Evan Bradley & Where is South Africa’s health policy going? – Michael Settas ||||| Tobacco counts in the South African economy – Leon Louw ||||| Tales from last century - how FMF opposed apartheid – FMF directors ||||| Healthcare in South Africa - major concerns – Johann Serfontein & Mike Settas ||||| South Africa to 2030: A strategic intelligence briefing – Frans Cronje ||||| 75% is what it will take to change S25 of Constitution – no argument – Robert Vivian ||||| Expropriation Without Compensation (EWC) and the ANC’s National Democratic Revolution (NDR) – Anthea Jeffery ||||| Is there hope for the future? – Neil Emerick ||||| The maxi magnitude of the mini budget – Dawie Roodt ||||| Real-life evidence of the importance of the Rule of Law to freedom and prosperity – Frans Rautenbach & Dan Mitchell ||||| SA’s future energy security at risk if draft IRP2018 adopted – Anthonie Cilliers ||||| America in the age of Trump – John Fund      

• 2019

  Q  QUARTERLY REVIEWs: March ||||| June ||||| September ||||| December 

  Economic Freedom of the World Report AUDIT
  From 17-19 July, the FMF hosted a conference on the EFW Report, and the Report’s data’s implications for South Africa. Five speakers addressed the five different sections of the report. Fred McMahon, Resident Fellow at the Fraser Institute (which publishes the annual EFW Report), facilitated the discussion sessions. The event was very well attended, with both civil society and government represented. The five presentations can be viewed at the links below.
  Size of Government – Brian Kantor
  Sound Money – Russell Lamberti
  Regulation – Professor Robert Vivian
  Freedom to Trade – Bonang Mohale
  Legal System and Property Rights – Rex van Schalkwyk

  Speaking engagements
  Chris Hattingh and Mpiyakhe Dhlamini participated in Capitalism vs. Socialism: A Panel Discussion on Economic Theories. The event, hosted by student organisation Ratio Christi, was held in Pretoria. Attended by around 50 students and members of the public, the discussion allowed each side ample opportunity to present its case for its preferred system, as well as critiques of the opponent’s. |||||
  Chris Hattingh spoke at an event at Maroela Media. Chris briefed the Maroela team on the wide range of work in which the FMF engages, and presented the free market view on a couple of the biggest issues facing South Africa in 2019. |||||
  Chris Hattingh participated in a panel discussion, hosted by the Centre for Constitutional Rights, on the Land Reform Report. The three speakers outlined their views on the Report, their main takeaways, and their views on the wider discussion on expropriation without compensation in the country. |||||
  

  
  KHAYA LAM (My Home) Land Reform Project: 101 residents of Vredefort in the Free State received title deeds to their homes bringing the total number of transfers completed to date to 3,197. Date: 23 January 2019. Sponsor: Rising Tide Foundation (RTF), a Swiss-based, privately endowed foundation committed to 1,500 transfers. Read more here.

  
  KHAYA LAM (My Home) Land Reform Project: Residents of Edenville in the Free State received title deeds to their homes. Date: 26 February 2019. Sponsor: Betterlife. 
  

  
  KHAYA LAM (My Home) Land Reform Project: Montoedi Hall, Mokwallo title deed presentation; 37 title deeds presented 13 March. Speakers Leon Louw and Executive Mayor Joey Mochela. 

  
  KHAYA LAM (My Home) Land Reform Project: On Freedom Day, 27 April, a generation after the fall of apartheid, a further 66 residents of Vukuzenzele (which means stand up and do it for yourself) in Cape Town received title deeds to properties they have occupied for decades. This was a unique event for Khaya Lam: almost all new owners were women, and they each contributed R800 towards the costs of the title deeds. Speakers: PEP’s Director, Shawn Cuff; community committee member, Amanda Mpama; sponsor Carl Fredrik Sammeli (and Hans Otterling); sponsor Christo Wiese; FMF Director, Temba A Nolutshungu. The People’s Environmental Planning (PEP) NGO, played a decisive role by bringing the properties to the point where they could be registered. See photos here; read more here.

  KHAYA LAM (My Home) Land Reform Project: The Christel House project in Cape Town was completed in April where, with the sponsorship of Growthpoint, 367 parents/guardians of learners have been helped to get a title deed, get a housing subsidy, and achieve certainty as to their status in the Cape Town housing lists.

  KHAYA LAM (My Home) Land Reform Project: On 27 May, 66 titles were presented in Vukuzenzele.

  
  KHAYA LAM (My Home) Land Reform Project: Mosipedi Hall title deed presentation; 88 title deeds presented 26 July. Speakers Perry Feldman and Executive Mayor Joey Mochela. Sponsors: Rising Tide Foundation (45) and various others.

  KHAYA LAM (My Home) Land Reform Project: Kwakwatsi title deed presentation; 209 title deeds presented 7 August. Speaker Executive Mayor Joey Mochela. Sponsors: Rising Tide Foundation (205) and Frank Joffe (4).

  KHAYA LAM (My Home) Land Reform Project: Mokwallo title deed presentation; 8 title deeds presented 29 August.

  
  KHAYA LAM (My Home) Land Reform Project: Ngwathe, Edenville title deed presentation; 115 title deeds presented 15 October. Speakers: Leon Louw, Carl Coetzee – CEO, BetterBond and Executive Mayor Joey Mochela. Sponsor and organiser Betterbond used local catering and other resources to extend the benefits of the event to as many as possible. See photos here; read more here.

  
  KHAYA LAM (My Home) Land Reform Project: Pineview, Grabouw title deed presentation; 100 title deeds presented 22 October. MC: Temba Nolutshungu. Speakers: Provincial Human Settlements Minister Tertius Simmers; Rian Maartens, Founder & CEO, Ipic Group; Theewaterskloof Municipality Executive Mayor Christelle Vosloo; FMF Director Temba Nolutshungu. Sponsor: Ipic Group. Minister Simmers said, “I come from a community where 70% of the people live on SASSA grants. I am the first of my generation to receive a tertiary education. How did this happen? My parents had a title deed, which they used to raise a loan to educate me. This is how we can break the cycle of poverty.” See photos here; read more here.

  
  KHAYA LAM (My Home) Land Reform Project: Stellenbosch Town Hall title deed presentation; 132 title deeds presented 21 November. MC: Temba A Nolutshungu, FMF Director. Speakers: Leon Louw, Johann Rupert and Mayor Gesie van Deventer. Sponsor: The Rupert Foundation. The Ruperts sponsored 1,000 titles in Stellenbosch and 1,000 in Graaff Reinet where Dr Rupert’s father Anton was born. The Ruperts have pledged a further 10,000 titles. Among the recipients, was 82 year old No England Ndude from Kaya Mandi. See photos here; read more here.

  KHAYA LAM (My Home) Land Reform Project: After many years of heroic activism for land restitution by Alexandra (Alex) township property claimants, supported by the FMF, the first batch of title deeds in Alex were presented at a ceremony on 10 December. Up to 100 claimants received title deeds from Gauteng Premier, David Makhura, at Kwa Bhekilanga High School. A further 200 have been registered and are expected to be presented shortly. Over 2000 more are in the pipeline. Read more here.

  
  The tenth FMF LUMINARY AWARD recipient was Bonang Mohale “…for his contribution to SA’s business community and defending the rights of all South Africans.” - read more here; watch the video here

  
  On 22 and 23 August, the FMF participated in the 2019 AFRICA LIBERTY FORUM in Nairobi, Kenya. The forum was co-hosted by the Atlas Network and African Students For Liberty. FMF Project Manager, Chris Hattingh, participated in a weeklong training programme that preceded the forum. Board member, Phumlani M Majozi, presented on the developing situation in South Africa and how to create a credible voice for liberty in media. Executive Director, Leon Louw, provided his insights into constitutionalism and the Rule of Law, and their relevance to human rights. Director, Temba A Nolutshungu, was asked to speak about corruption and how to fight it through adherence to the tenets of the Rule of Law. Head of Legal Policy, Martin van Staden, presented on how to be an effective advocate for liberty online. Board member, Unathi Kwaza, also attended the proceedings. See photos here.
  

  SUBMISSIONS: Submission on the Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill, 2018 ||||| Submission on the Expropriation Bill, 2019 ||||| Submission on Conduct of Financial Institutions Bill, 2018 ||||| Submission on Tourism Amendment Bill, 2019 ||||| Submission on National Health Insurance Bill, 2019 ||||| Submission on Conduct of Financial Institutions Bill ||||| Submission on Tourism Amendment Bill ||||| Submission on National Health Insurance Bill 

  
  PUBLICATIONS: The Constitution and the Rule of Law: An Introduction - Martin van Staden. Read more here. ||||| Economic Freedom of the World - Annual report

   Evening events (with video links): 
  Causes and consequences of Zimbabwe's dire economic predicament – David Coltart ||||| So that was the budget: what now for South Africa? – Dawie Roodt ||||| How to stop expropriation without compensation – Mark Oppenheimer ||||| The Constitution and the Rule of Law: An Introduction – Martin van Staden ||||| Can 8 May give us competition in government with no dominant party – what are the chances? – Temba Nolutshungu ||||| Let entrepreneurship reign – less government and more entrepreneurship – Sikonathi Mantshantsha ||||| Mass unemployment – the consequence of brutality masquerading as compassion – Eustace Davie ||||| Economic Freedom of the World Report 2019 – Neil Emerick ||||| The Rule of Law and judicial contempt for liberty in South Africa – Martin van Staden ||||| National Health Insurance is catastrophic for SA’s healthcare and economy – Dr Johann Serfontein, Patrick Bracher, and Michael Settas ||||| Human apes to human robots – Dawie Roodt

  PODcasts & VloGs (with links): 
  2019 Year in Review for liberty – Free Marketeers ||||| Tories take Westminster, EWC, and education protests – Free Marketeers ||||| SAA's business rescue and traffic police brutality – Free Marketeers ||||| IMF warning, customary law, and silliness at the CC – Free Marketeers ||||| Bad news at SAA, worse news for the national debt – Free Marketeers ||||| Bad philosophy underlies all bad ideas and policies – Chris Hattingh ||||| Good news at SAA, bad news at Eskom, terrible news at SAPS ||||| Bad labour policy caused Mittal plant shutdown and job losses ||||| Tax collection nosedive and Eskom 'can't afford' layoffs ||||| Unaccountable regulators threaten economic freedom – Martin van Staden ||||| The importance of economic freedom to South Africa's economy ||||| Mboweni plan dead, SOEs failing, and public sector wage bill freeze ||||| Vaping, Mboweni's ill-fated plans, and SABC bailout – Free Marketeers ||||| The importance of economic freedom for SA – Chris Hattingh ||||| ICASA's proposed regulations signal the end of sports broadcasting ||||| Spanking, RICA surveillance, and Zimbabwe closed for business ||||| The myth of White Monopoly Capital – Chris Hattingh ||||| Crime stats, guns, and their relationship with free markets ||||| Possible tax revolt and new SAA turnaround plan – Chris Hattingh ||||| Mugabe's death, xenophobia in SA, violence against women, and EFW 2019 ||||| Xenophobia in SA & SAA needs a new CRO – Chris Hattingh ||||| Mboweni's new plan, SAX grounded, and Hong Kong protests – Free Marketeers ||||| SA Express grounded – Chris Hattingh ||||| FMF at Africa Liberty Forum 2019 – Free Marketeers ||||| Steamrolling laws and mistrusted law enforcement – Free Marketeers ||||| The importance of ideas – Chris Hattingh ||||| NHI disaster, SOE bailouts, and Reserve Bank – Free Marketeers ||||| SA's unemployment crisis – Chris Hattingh ||||| EWC + NHI Update – Chris Hattingh ||||| DEBATE: Constitutionalism, immigration, and welfare – Free Marketeers ||||| How to fix South Africa's economy – Chris Hattingh ||||| Communal poverty and National Health Insurance – Free Marketeers ||||| The problem with exploitation theory – Chris Hattingh ||||| Dutch condemn EWC, free enterprise in Rwanda, and private security regulations – Free Marketeers ||||| Resist the nationalisation of the legal profession – Martin van Staden ||||| Empty words at Ramaphosa's post-election SONA – Free Marketeers ||||| Arming teachers and stop punishing the private sector – Free Marketeers ||||| Jarana ejects from SAA – Chris Hattingh ||||| What's new about the Cabinet? – Free Marketeers ||||| Is Atlas shrugging? – Chris Hattingh ||||| The ignored parts of the Constitution – Martin van Staden ||||| Minimum wage, New Dawn, and youth obsessionism – Free Marketeers ||||| The inverted moral priorities – Chris Hattingh ||||| Free trade and Tax Freedom Day – Free Marketeers ||||| What does it mean to be 'left wing' in 2019 – Chris Hattingh ||||| Government's contempt of public participation – Martin van Staden ||||| A review of Election 2019 – Free Marketeers ||||| BLF, hate speech and free speech – Freedom/Inkululeko ||||| Election 2019 and the ethics of voting – Free Marketeers ||||| THIS is what socialism leads to – Chris Hattingh ||||| Workers' Month is a lie in South Africa – Martin van Staden ||||| Thabo Mbeki's lessons for government – Freedom/Inkululeko ||||| Regulating Airbnb, data prices, and everything else – Free Marketeers ||||| Warzones fare better than SA, and should prostitution be decriminalised? – Free Marketeers ||||| Investment and the tragedy at Notre-Dame – Chris Hattingh ||||| What is constitutionalism? – Martin van Staden ||||| A tale of two stokvels – Freedom/Inkululeko ||||| Protests in Alex, regulating MultiChoice, and Julian Assange – Free Marketeers ||||| Freedom of speech under threat in South Africa – Chris Hattingh ||||| Is SA about to become the skunk of the world again? – Martin van Staden ||||| Ideology instead of medical skills – Freedom/Inkululeko ||||| What's going on with expropriation without compensation? – Free Marketeers ||||| SARS moans and groans about tax collection – Martin van Staden ||||| The NHI: An economic disaster – Freedom/Inkululeko ||||| Boycotting Israeli academy, and arbitrary hate speech criteria – Free Marketeers ||||| 'The Road to Serfdom' 75 years later – Chris Hattingh ||||| Human Rights Day, cronyism, and the President's train grinds to a halt – Free Marketeers ||||| No surprise that business confidence remains low – Chris Hattingh ||||| A brief overview of the basic structure doctrine – Martin van Staden ||||| Unbundling of electricity in China – Freedom/Inkululeko ||||| Christchurch, business confidence, and Std Bank job losses – Free Marketeers ||||| Venezocialism and Election 2019 in South Africa – Chris Hattingh ||||| Abuse of power is in the nature of big government – Martin van Staden ||||| Inflation & capital versus labour – Freedom/Inkululeko ||||| Reserve Bank nationalisation: SA, Zimbabwe and Venezuela ||||| What is the proper role of government? – Chris Hattingh ||||| This is how we restore respect for the law – Martin van Staden ||||| Opportunity costs of government bailouts – Freedom/Inkululeko ||||| The radical economic transformation of capitalism – Chris Hattingh ||||| What will it take to amend the Constitution for EWC? – Martin van Staden ||||| Five priorities for growth – Freedom/Inkululeko ||||| Stealth taxes, privatisation, and the Rule of Law – Free Marketeers ||||| Breaking down Budget 2019 – Chris Hattingh ||||| Justice demands respect for firearm rights in South Africa – Martin van Staden ||||| Provincial consolidation, firearm rights, China, and traffic law ||||| Political choice vs free speech – Freedom/Inkululeko ||||| Creating an Entrepreneur-Friendly SA with Unathi Kwaza ||||| The President's empty SONA, progress on National Health Insurance Bill ||||| Myths of land reform, Ramaphosa's hot air, and property rights ||||| Venezuela, Zimbabwe, Davos, and corruption – Free Marketeers ||||| Oxfam's irrational obsession with inequality – Free Marketeers ||||| Race, State Capture, and the Reserve Bank – Free Marketeers ||||| Expropriation, inequality, and capital vs labour – Free Marketeers ||||| Expropriation without compensation in 2020 – Free Marketeers 

• 2020

  
  FMF recognised the extraordinary threat posed by government's response to Covid-19 on South Africans’ lives and livelihoods. Through special focus on the Rule of Law, Constitutional, and economic freedom aspects, FMF sought to both educate citizens of the devastating effects of lockdown, as well as pushing back against the rules and regulations resulting therefrom. Through reports, articles, media releases, social media activism, podcasts, and third party engagement, FMF added a strong, consistent, and significant voice in the broader civil society resistance to the virtual-overnight stripping away of people’s civil liberties and economic freedoms. Visit our Covid-19 Hub here.
  

  Q QUARTERLY REVIEWs: March ||||| June ||||| September ||||| December 

  Celebrating two years of weekly City Press COLUMNS! City Press has a circulation of just under 40,000 and a readership of 2.5 million. For a list of columns and authors since October 2018, read here.

  
  On 30 September, the FMF and Business Leadership South Africa hosted a JOINT PANEL DISCUSSION on land reform and expropriation without compensation. The consensus among panellists comprising Martin van Staden, FMF Head of Legal (Policy and Research), Temba A Nolutshungu, FMF Director, Business Leadership South Africa’s (BLSA) CEO Busi Mavuso, and Tebele Luthuli, BLSA’s Director of Policy and Legislation, was that EWC is not only a bad idea but also an unnecessary one, as government already has the means to deliver substantive land reform. See video here.

  
  KHAYA LAM (My Home) Land Reform Project: Phiritona, Free State title deed presentation; 250 title deeds presented 26 February, bringing the total number of transfers in the province to 2,952. Speakers: Leon Louw, Jasson Urbach (message from the sponsor) and Executive Mayor, Joey Mochela. Sponsor: Swiss-based Rising Tide Foundation. Isabelle Hirs, senior programme manager at RTF said, “This is a wonderful moment for all of us – 250 title deeds are being presented to their rightful owners today! What started out for Rising Tide Foundation as a small engagement several years ago has matured into a fantastic project that is receiving recognition not only nationally but also internationally.” Read more here.

  
  KHAYA LAM (My Home) Land Reform Project: Full title deeds through Bond Cancellation, a breakthrough by Remgro, Cederberg Municipality and FMF in Clanwilliam, Western Cape. 45 title deeds presented 8 October. Programme Director: Nigel Mercuur. Speakers: Ward Councillor Maxwell Heins, Human Settlement Department, Shirley-Ann Mouton with inputs by Temba A Nolutshungu, conveyancer Dirk Verdoes and Executive Mayor, Sylvia Quinta. Vote of Thanks: Municipal Manager, Henry Slimmert. Sponsor: Remgro. See video here; see photos here; read more here.

  
  KHAYA LAM (My Home) Land Reform Project: A further 162 fully tradeable free hold title deeds were presented in Kwakwatsi (Koppies), Free State on 14 October. New owners included 92-year old Mrs Radebe and 91-year old Mrs Mabaso who have waited all their lives to own their homes. Speakers: Capitec’s Neptal Khoza and Ellen-Anne Finnemore, with Ngwathe Executive Mayor, Joey Mochela, and FMF President Leon Louw. The recipients were also provided with food parcels worth R600, a joint gift from Capitec and Pick ’n Pay, Norwood. Conveyancers: Du Toit Mandelstam. Sponsor: Capitec Bank. See photos here; read more here.

  KHAYA LAM (My Home) Land Reform Project: On 22 October Minister of Human Settlements, Tertius Simmers, Stellenbosch Executive Mayor, Gesie van Deventer, and FMF Director, Temba A Nolutshungu, delivered title deeds to the front gates of 16 families in Pniel, Stellenbosch. This was a walking procession entailing personal engagement with the community and beneficiaries, including the oldest recipient, 77 year old Mrs Estelle Daniels and her husband, Godfrey. Minister Simmers had his own special reason to be present as he is living proof of the power of a title deed to escape the poverty trap – his parents took out a student loan based on their own title deed. Sponsors: Dr Johann Rupert and his wife Gaynor. Read more here.

  On November 20, FMF hosted a ROUNDTABLE on Expropriation Without Compensation.
  Speakers & topics:  
  Rex van Schalkwyk: Former Judge | Chairman, FMF Board & FMF Rule of Law Board: You will own nothing and you will be happy – see video here
  Anthea Jeffery: IRR Head of Policy Research: Expropriation Without Compensation, without amending the constitution – see video here
  Robert W Vivian: Prof Finance & Insurance, Wits | FMF Board member: The American Constitutional Order and SA’s Expropriation Without Compensation – see video here
  Martin van Staden: FMF Head of Legal (Policy and Research): The Basic Structure Doctrine and EWC – see video here
  Robert W Vivian: Prof Finance & Insurance, Wits | FMF Board member: Procedure to amend the Constitution: 75% vote required – see video here
  Rex van Schalkwyk: Former Judge | Chairman, FMF Board & FMF Rule of Law Board: Parliament’s procedural error: EWC cannot occur if the rule of law remains a foundational value of SA law. An interdict? – see video here
  

  SUBMISSIONS: Submission on Tourism Amendment Bill ||||| Submission on Ease of Doing Business Bill ||||| Submission on Eskom’s Clearing Account Application, 2020 ||||| Submission on Constitution Eighteenth Amendment Bill, 2019 ||||| Submission National Sport and Recreation Amendment Bill, 2020 ||||| Comment on proposed Ease of Doing Business Bill, 2020 ||||| Submission on 2020 annual review of the Constitution ||||| Submission on Economic Regulation of Transport Bill, 2020 ||||| Submission on the Upgrading of Land Tenure Rights Amendment Bill, 2020 |||||

  
  PUBLICATIONS: Security of Property Rights in South Africa: A Critical Response to Expropriation Without Compensation - compiled by Temba A Nolutshungu; edited by Martin van Staden ||||| Jacques Jonker and Martin van Staden’s case study on EWC and IP rights, Undoing 26 years of progress: Property rights in South Africa, was published by the International Property Rights Alliance. The study summarises and attempts a cursory quantification of two threats to property rights in South Africa (Expropriation Without Compensation (EWC) & the Copyright Amendment Bill) and warns that government proceeding with these interventions will yield disastrous results. ||||| Economic Freedom of the World - Annual report

  Speaking engagements
  FMF presented Liberalism in South Africa: Its history and prospects for 2020 and beyond. The South African commentariat was abuzz throughout 2019 on the topic of liberalism, the role it played in South African history, and its relevance for our current context and future. Some say liberalism was complicit in the marginalisation and exclusion of millions of South Africans from the economy, and others regard it as a cold and uncaring ideology that is not fit for a country with South Africa’s socio-economic circumstances. Yet, others defend liberals as having been the only consistent opponents to Apartheid oppression, who charted a viable future for all South Africans, characterised by individual liberty, economic freedom, and governance under a supreme constitution and the Rule of Law. John Kane-Berman, Gwen Ngwenya, and Martin van Staden unpacked the topic of liberalism in South Africa. |||||
  Temba A. Nolutshungu participated in Analysing the Real State of the Nation. The event, organised by Progress SA, saw Temba and John Steenhuisen discuss how they see current political, economic, and social matters in South Africa. |||||
  Martin van Staden participated in a discussion, Property Rights: The Seen and the Unseen. Hosted by African Students for Liberty, they unpacked the importance of strong property rights for a prosperous society, with special focus on property rights within the African context. |||||
  Temba A. Nolutshungu addressed the Canada Africa Chamber of Business conference which had over 500 registered participants; his presentation will be shared with their database of over 6,000. Temba’s topic: High Growth Economies, human progress and happiness. |||||
  Lorenzo Montanari, Executive Director of the Property Rights Alliance, asked Martin van Staden to speak briefly at an Americans for Tax Reform meeting. Various new American congressmen and policymakers, mostly in the Republican establishment, were present. Martin asked for any support they could offer on Expropriation Without Compensation (EWC). ||||| 
  Chris Hattingh joined the Global Trade and Innovation Policy Alliance’s 2020 Virtual Summit, which was attended by over 220 people. The opening address was delivered by Mr Min-seok Kim, Chair of the Korean Health and Welfare Committee of the Korean National Assembly. Chris participated in a panel discussion: COVID-19: Lessons for Policymakers on Managing Health and Economic Impacts during which he delivered a short presentation based on his research contribution to the GTIPA’s report, COVID-19 Impacts on Public Health and the Economy of GTIPA Member Nations. His research covered the state of SA heading into the pandemic, the government’s COVID-19 response, as well as a few policy recommendations for SA to experience some measure of meaningful growth as it moves out of the pandemic and lockdown. Chris also contributed to two other reports: GTIPA Perspectives: The Importance of E-commerce, Digital Trade, and Maintaining the WTO E-commerce Customs Duty Moratorium, and GTIPA Perspectives: Nations' Trade Policy Priorities for the Year Ahead.
  

  PODcasts & VloGs (with links): 
  SARB nationalisation, taxing the taxis, and retrenchments at DionWired ||||| SAA gets R3.5 billion, yet another bailout – Chris Hattingh ||||| Monopoly explained (using streaming services) – Chris Hattingh ||||| Liberalism in South Africa: Its history and prospects – Gwen Ngwenya ||||| Union leaders want to take your pensions! – Free Marketeers ||||| Another no reform SONA amidst the crisis – Free Marketeers ||||| National Health Insurance – Dawie Roodt & Unathi Kwaza ||||| Previewing the 2020 Budget Speech – Free Marketeers ||||| EWC and new conscription powers for Sport Minister ||||| Competition and monopolisation – Martin van Staden ||||| COVID-19 impact and SAX business rescue – Free Marketeers ||||| COVID-19 update and repo rate cut – Free Marketeers ||||| The COVID-19 lockdown does not justify lax citizenship ||||| COVID-19 update, privacy concerns, & the best policies for SA ||||| COVID-19: A view from the UK & potential impact on global trade ||||| New lockdown regulations: Adv Mark Oppenheimer – Free Marketeers ||||| COVID-19 relief package & reform: Dawie Roodt – Free Marketeers ||||| COVID-19 lockdown update: civil illiberty – Free Marketeers ||||| SA needs radical economic transformation – Free Marketeers ||||| COVID-19 & SMEs in South Africa: Pavlo Phitidis – Free Marketeers ||||| Is the NCCC legitimate? Erin Richards – Free Marketeers ||||| Gun rights: Crucial to freedom in SA since 1878 – Free Marketeers ||||| How can businesses navigate the lockdown? – Free Marketeers ||||| SA's most important economy, GG Alcock – Free Marketeers ||||| Solve the education crisis, James Urdang – Free Marketeers ||||| Government brutality and QE on the horizon – Free Marketeers ||||| 2020 World No Freedom Day, Leon Louw – Free Marketeers ||||| The de-industrialising world, Johan Norberg – Free Marketeers ||||| Police, race, lockdown, and capitalism – Free Marketeers ||||| Centralising SA's healthcare now would be fatal – Free Marketeers ||||| Cape Town evictions and Hong Kong repression – Free Marketeers ||||| The alcohol ban returns: Full Episode – Mpiyakhe Dhlamini ||||| Lessons for SA from Thomas Sowell, Perils of a command economy ||||| What it means to be a South African? Lockdown effects revealed ||||| Education on ice and restaurant industry takes to the streets ||||| Prof Vivian on competition theory & government intervention – Episode 1 ||||| Lockdown 2020: Undermining liberty – A discussion with Jeffrey Tucker ||||| Don't wait for change; be the change – Pavlo Phitidis ||||| UK lockdown 2.0 and upcoming US election – Free Marketeers ||||| South Africa's new draconian Sports Bill – Free Marketeers ||||| Radical steps South Africa must take for future prosperity - Free Marketeers ||||| Translating economic freedom into policy – Mpiyakhe Dhlamini

   Evening events & media briefings (with video links): 
  Increasing access to quality healthcare in South Africa – Michael Settas and Adrian Parsons ||||| Load-shedding: what caused it and why the lack of a permanent solution? – Dave Nicholls ||||| A horrible budget in horrible times – Dawie Roodt ||||| Where does SA rank in 2020 Economic Freedom of the World report? – Leon Louw ||||| Upgrading of Land Tenure Rights Act (ULTRA) amendment will have disastrous unintended consequences – Leon Louw

  
  Ha Ha  Some years ago FMF began to commission CARTOONS for social media use. Our cartoons can be viewed here.

• 2021

  Q QUARTERLY REVIEWs: March ||||| June ||||| September ||||| December

  PODcasts & VloGs (with links): 
  SA COVID-19 vaccine - Free Marketeers Update  ||||| A new dawn for African trade? - Free Marketeers ||||| Prof Vivian on competition theory & 'market failure' - Episode 2 ||||| Loadshedding returns; Eskom's 3-month outlook - Free Marketeers ||||| Essential Austrian Economics unpacked - Free Marketeers ||||| South Africa's unemployment crisis - Ann Bernstein ||||| South Africa in the world in 2021 - Frans Cronje ||||| Land reform that strengthens property rights and addresses injustices continues - Khaya Lam ||||| South Africa's devastated small businesses - Free Marketeers ||||| Vaccines and your rights - Free Marketeers ||||| Unpacking South Africa's 2021 State of the Nation Address - Free Marketeers ||||| View from the inside: André de Ruyter discusses Eskom’s current state of affairs ||||| Government folly in controlling data prices - Ivo Vegter ||||| The Expropriation Bill's Great Reset of property rights ||||| Unlocking the economy: Will the 2021 Budget uplift the poor? - Ray Mahlaka ||||| Canada's universal healthcare system - Does it work? - Bacchus Barua ||||| Profits and employment in South Africa - Mike Schüssler ||||| The future of Chile hangs in the balance - Natalia González ||||| There is no Supreme Constitution: A Critique of Statist-individualist Constitutionalism - Prof Koos Malan ||||| Parliament will need more than the ANC and EFF to make EWC a reality - Prof Robert Vivian ||||| Government's EWC push starts showing cracks - Martin van Staden

  
  KHAYA LAM (My Home) Land Reform Project: 
  

  SUBMISSIONS: Submission to the National Energy Regulator (NERSA) ||||| Submission on National Small Enterprise Amendment Bill ||||| Submission on Audio & AudioVisual Content Services Policy Framework White Paper ||||| Submission on the Expropriation Bill ||||| Submission additional on the Expropriation Bill ||||| Submission on the Viability of a Domestic Card Scheme to SARB||||| Additional submission to the Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure on the Expropriation Bill ||||| RoL presentations on Icasa's contemplated review of its covid disaster regulations ||||| Submission on fiscal responsibility bill 2021 ||||| Submission to the Standing Committee on Finance on the Fiscal Responsibility Bill ||||| FMF submission to ICASA on MDSE Draft Regulations |||||  Comment on electricity regulation act amendment ||||| Submission on National Data and Cloud Policy 2021 ||||| Comment on proposed amendments to the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act ||||| Submission on Firearms Control Amendment Bill ||||| Submission on Revised Constitution Eighteenth Amendment Bill ||||| Submission to the World Health Organisation on the Global Alcohol Action Plan 2022-2030 ||||| Comment on the National Minimum Wage to the National Minimum Wage (NMW) Commission, 2021 ||||| Submission on Financial Sector Laws Amendment Bill