Media Statements

The High Court in Johannesburg handed down a judgment today in which it set aside a decision taken by the former Minister of Justice, Mr Michael Masutha, to extradite Mr Manuel Chang to Mozambique. The Helen Suzman Foundation (“HSF”) appeared in the matter as amicus curiae.

On 16 and 17 October 2019, the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg will hear review proceedings in respect of a decision to extradite Mr Manuel Chang to Mozambique. The Helen Suzman Foundation has been admitted as amicus curiae.

On 30 August 2019, the Portfolio Committee on Health announced its call for comments along with its deadline of 11 October 2019 on the NHI Bill.

On 27 August 2019, the Ministry of Finance called for comments on a National Treasury document entitled Economic transformation, inclusive growth and competitiveness: towards an economic strategy for South Africa.

The Helen Suzman Foundation has written to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Thandi Modise.

An open letter to the newly elected Members of Parliament was handed in to Parliament today, signed by 28 civil society organisations, including the Helen Suzman Foundation.

The struggle against State Capture and corruption in South Africa is a struggle for human rights. This is why the current revelations at the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture (the Zondo Commission) are important – they lay bare the various networks of looters in the public and private sector who have criminally enriched themselves at the expense of the many.

The Helen Suzman Foundation (“HSF”) has filed an application with the Constitutional Court to appeal an order of the Pretoria High Court which on 12 February 2019 sanctioned an agreement (“the Agreement”) between the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (“IPID”), Mr Robert McBride as the Executive Director of IPID, the Minister of Police (“the Minister”) and the National Assembly’s Portfolio Committee on Police.

The Helen Suzman Foundation (“the HSF”) has a long-standing involvement in and commitment to ensuring the institutional independence of state entities, especially those tasked with the fight against corruption.

The disarray of South Africa’s criminal justice system is to a large degree the result of a conscious policy over the past decade, of attempts to fashion the leadership of various institutions to suit certain political or personal agendas.