The FW de Klerk Foundation released its Annual Report Card 2024 on Monday, which assesses the extent to which the rights and freedoms of the Bill of Rights are enjoyed as a reality.
In doing so, the foundation said it considers how the government meets its obligation to respect, protect, promote and carry out all rights rooted in the Constitutional Bill of Rights.
This report was compiled by the Foundation's Constitutional Program Manager, Danielaer Laerbek, and program interns, Shanees Nkandu and Sonia Tungieier.
Ellabek said the report card allows South Africans and their leaders to measure how realistic the country is for everyone.
“This is part of the Foundation's efforts to encourage citizens to discuss these important issues as citizens as citizens form part of their daily dialogue and constantly feature in the media we consume.”
Overall, this report showed a deterioration in human rights on 11/27, with no changes in rights on 10/27, and an improvement in rights on 4/27.
In particular, the rights to deteriorate are the rights of “human dignity”, “religion, freedom of beliefs and opinions”, “freedom of expression”, “political rights”, “freedom of movement and residence”, “trade, occupation and occupation”, “property”, “medical, water, social security, “children”, “equality”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children”, “children
The report highlights food anxiety was the best in a decade. The serious uncertainty embedded in the National Health Insurance Act in 2023 could limit the right to access health services (section 27), and destroy the private health sector, as in funding to fund universal health coverage.
Children's rights to basic nutrition are at risk, with under 21% of children receiving adequate nutrition. Despite government efforts in the form of social grants and school nutrition programs, responses remain insufficient. Furthermore, disruptions in school feeding programs have made the crisis even worse.
In 2024, South Africa's unemployment rate was approximately. 32.8% – There is an even higher unemployment rate among young people (ages 15-34). 45,5%. During the same period, almost half of the young women (49,4%) were unemployed. The lack of security in South Africa is an important barrier to the entry of women who want to participate in the economy. This has a negative effect on the realization of the right to trade, occupation, or occupational freedom, as provided in the Constitution.
In addition to hampering economic growth, the IMF also expressed concern that South Africa's prominent income inequality could further destabilise the country's socioeconomic landscape, which left income inequality surprisingly high.
High homicide rates, medical disparities, mismanagement of firearms, and inefficiency in law enforcement all pose a threat to the right to life (section 11).
The report also showed that the Basic Education Act Amendment Act of 2024 (the “Bella Act”) is centralizing control over education with the government and putting constitutional rights at risk by having schools (i.e. parents) administering organizations. Furthermore, budget cuts have caused a crisis, and many states cannot afford to buy teachers
“We've seen a lot of effort into the development of our foundation,” said Christovan del Riede, executive director of the foundation.
“South Africa needs to increase the number of taxpayers. In 2024, there were only about 7.4 million taxpayers for a population of over 60 million. That's 60 million with real needs. Our country has once again “arrived at a stage of history that is no longer an option for South Africans to agree to oppose.”
“Without job creation due to economic growth, the number of taxpayers remains low, and the resulting income from the government is too small to properly meet the needs of 60 million people.
Van der Rheede said that there is not enough money in the state's financial resources and that budget cuts in education and other sectors will continue to negatively affect these rights in order to properly address the needs of 60 million people.
“In the absence of job creation caused by economic growth, income inequality, food insecurity and more, we will continue to have a negative impact on the dignity, equality and other rights and freedoms of South Africans,” he said.
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