We’ve had an enormously successful year of advancing HSF’s mission through public interest litigation, engagement with law and policy makers, and by providing spaces for deliberative public dialogue. This report aims to highlight the work that encompasses each of these avenues, and we appreciate you taking the time to reflect over the past year with us.

A highlight of our public interest litigation remains the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP) case, where judgment was handed down on 28 June 2023. In a significant victory for ZEP holders and their families—and indeed all South Africans concerned with fair, reasoned government decision-making—the court held that they were entitled to a fair process, due consultation, and sound reasoning when decisions of calamitous moment are made regarding their lives and livelihoods.

Earlier in June 2023, interdicts were granted against the private prosecutions launched by former President Jacob Zuma against Billy Downer, the lead prosecutor in his long-running corruption trial, and journalist Karyn Maughan. The judgment indicated express agreement with HSF’s submissions that Mr. Zuma’s own court documents made manifest his ulterior, abusive purpose. Moreover, former Mozambican Finance Minister Manuel Chang was successfully extradited to the USA to stand trial in early July. This ends a concerted campaign, which HSF opposed, to have Mr. Chang returned to Mozambique, where he would have been assured certain immunity. Also in July, the Constitutional Court dismissed the appeal of the Commissioner of Correctional Services, leaving in place the Supreme Court of Appeal’s order, which HSF had sought, that Mr. Zuma was unlawfully granted medical parole.

HSF considers the participatory element of our democracy to be a crucial feature of our constitutional system and regularly engages with Parliament and other organs of state when they call for comments on new legislation or government policies. This year, HSF made several submissions to Parliament and policymakers in the Executive to secure important reforms to our laws.

Current events in South Africa offer no shortage of topics for discussion and debate. HSF is committed to providing spaces that attract experts to discuss our country’s pressing issues to help separate the signal from the noise. To this end, we held several successful roundtable dialogues and hosted our annual Helen Suzman Memorial Lecture, delivered by former Constitutional Court Justice Johan Kriegler on the timely topic of electoral reform.

This past year, however, HSF was saddened to see Gary Ralfe’s departure from our board as trustee and Chairperson. Gary stepped down after 16 years of faithful service in guiding HSF as we carried out our mission of defending and promoting constitutional democracy in South Africa. We are as grateful for Gary’s tenure as we are delighted for his successor, Kalim Rajab, to begin his. Kalim took up the position of Chairperson in November 2024, after serving as our Vice Chairperson. We look forward to another impactful year ahead under his leadership.

Report by the Helen Suzman Foundation