Stop the Public GAG Order: Say NO to the Polling Ombud
South Africa’s democracy thrives on informed citizens and open debate. But a new proposal threatens to silence vital sources of public information. The Draft Electoral Laws Amendment Bill currently open for public input seeks to create a Polling Ombud—a new body with sweeping powers to control, restrict, and punish the publication of political opinion polls […]
BEE: Don’t review, repeal
Our Constitution sets the goalposts: dignity, equality, non-racialism and freedom (section 1). It allows remedial measures to advance those unfairly disadvantaged (section 9(2)). It does not say such measures are permanent, immune from evidence, or above review. Any remedy must be reasonable, proportionate and effective. Free SA believes BEE, as currently designed and enforced, isn’t […]
Defend Our Right to Self-Protection: Ongoing Public Submissions on Firearm Ownership
South Africans are facing growing uncertainty around their right to own firearms for self-defence. Recent public statements, draft legislation, and regulatory proposals indicate a continued push to restrict lawful firearm ownership, despite the country’s ongoing challenges with violent crime and limited state protection. Closes: 1 December 2024 Make your voice heard More about this campaign […]
Stop the Granny-Tax
Many retirees in South Africa, including foreign nationals living here and South Africans returning home after years abroad, rely on pensions as their primary — often sole — source of income. The government’s recent proposals to tax foreign pensions signal a dangerous precedent: that even the retirement savings of elderly people are a pool from […]
Be heard! Have your say to the Ad Hoc Committee to Investigate Allegations of Lt Gen Mkhwanazi
On 6 July 2025, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Police Commissioner, made explosive allegations implicating top-level officials, law enforcement, and the judiciary in systemic corruption and criminal syndicate operations. In response, Parliament has established an Ad Hoc Committee to investigate these claims, and they are now inviting the public to participate. Closed: 17 […]
No One Left Behind: Include Firearms Stakeholders in Legislative Debate
South Africans deserve transparent, fair, and effective firearm legislation. Yet the firearms industry has been excluded from formal discussions regarding proposed amendments to the Firearms Control Act, despite being directly affected by them. This after thousands of South Africans submitted comments on the initial Bill. Closed: 31 October 2025 Make your voice heard More about […]
Oppose Employment Equity Race Quotas
South Africa’s new Employment Equity (EE) targets propose strict racial quotas that could limit employment opportunities for able-bodied white men in both the public and private sectors. These quotas apply to companies with more than 50 employees and are to be enforced across skilled, professional, and management levels over the next five years. This approach […]
BELA REGULATIONS: Stop the Power Grab and Protect School Autonomy and Fair Access
The Department of Basic Education has proposed BELA-regulations that threaten the democratic governance of public schools and risk undermining parents’ and communities’ roles in shaping education. Key provisions in these draft regulations hand sweeping powers to the Head of Department (HoD), allowing them to override School Governing Bodies (SGBs) and reshape feeder zones and language […]
Building a Better Executive: Let’s Go Further Together
Parliament is currently considering the Constitution Twenty-Second Amendment Bill, which proposes to abolish the office of Deputy Minister and introduce limited oversight of ministerial appointments. While these are steps in the right direction, they do not go far enough in addressing the deeper issues of executive bloat, inefficiency, and lack of accountability. Closed: 31 August […]
Reject the Mandatory Insourcing Bill
Parliament is considering the Insourcing Bill (B19-2025). If passed, every organ of state would be forced to bring in-house a long list of functions – from security and cleaning to IT, transport, auditing and even catering. The Bill obliges departments and municipalities to insource all of these services, with outsourcing allowed only in rare, tightly-controlled […]