VF Plus - Oos-Kaap / Eastern Cape

Constitution does provide protection against abuses

Dr Corne Mulder
04-06-2026
(Parliamentary Debate: 30th Anniversary of the Constitution)

South Africa’s Constitution does indeed provide protection against abuses. The fact that there are so many attempts to amend it – for example, to make expropriation without compensation possible – serves as proof.

The Constitution is not set in stone. It is a living document and if it is fully applied in both letter and spirit, it will accommodate and protect everyone.

For too long, the ANC has been allowed to manipulate the Constitution to suit itself – it sometimes sounds as if this party drafted the Constitution all on its own. That is not true. It was an extensive process in which many parties, including the Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus), participated.

In this way, I had the honour of contributing, on behalf of the party, to, among other things, section 185 on the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities.

It is important for a country’s constitution to be drafted by its people for the people; it should be a reflection of the people’s hearts and minds.

A constitution may indeed be amended from time to time if a valid need and reason exist. It is not final. However, it appears that certain parties do not only wish to amend it, but almost want to do away with it.

An example is the EFF, which wants to scrap private property rights entirely – while the party’s leader owns property worth more than R35 million. Clearly, the notion of property rights suits some people sometimes, but not all the time.

South Africa’s Constitution is supposed to promote nation-building and social cohesion among all people. The question that remains is whether it has succeeded in creating a united national identity.

It is true that some people get the impression that their needs and aspirations are disregarded, in spite of the Constitution.

Unequal treatment regarding certain past events can be cited as an example. There are currently legal actions against certain persons for alleged abuses, while others are overlooked. This demonstrates prejudice.

In this regard, the interim Constitution made it clear that there should be mutual understanding and not revenge, restoration and not retaliation, ubuntu and not victimisation.

Is this what all people in the country experience? If not, it is unfair. The Constitution was drafted with the objective of ensuring equal and fair treatment for all.

There is still some leeway in the Constitution – sections that have not been fully implemented or that have room for improvement. When this is done, it will greatly contribute to promoting social cohesion and ensuring that all communities, including minorities, feel accommodated.

A new administration could help resurrect the spirit of reconciliation.

Constitution does provide protection against abuses | Freedom Front Plus (Parliamentary Debate: 30th Anniversary of the Constitution) South Africa’s Constitution does indeed provide protection against abuses. The fact that

Grondwet beskerm wel teen vergrype

Dr Corne Mulder
04-06-2026
(Parlementsdebat: 30ste herdenking van die Grondwet)

Suid-Afrika se Grondwet bied wel beskerming teen vergrype. Die feit dat daar soveel pogings is om dit aan te pas om byvoorbeeld onteiening sonder vergoeding moontlik te maak, dien as bewys hiervan.

Die Grondwet is nie in klip gekap nie. Dit is ‘n lewende dokument en indien dit ten volle na letter en gees toegepas word, sal dit almal akkommodeer en beskerm.

Die ANC is te lank toegelaat om dit te plooi soos dit hom gepas het en dit klink soms asof dié party die Grondwet alleen opgestel het. Dit is nie waar nie. Dit was ‘n proses waaraan baie, ook die VF Plus, deelgeneem het.

So kon ek namens die party ‘n aandeel hê in onder meer artikel 185 oor die kommissie vir die bevordering en beskerming van die regte van kultuur-, godsdiens- en taalgemeenskappe.

Dit is belangrik dat ‘n grondwet deur die mense van ‘n land vir dié mense geskep moet word en aanduidend moet wees van dít wat in mense se harte en gedagtes omgaan.

‘n Grondwet kan wel van tyd tot tyd aangepas word indien daar ‘n geldige behoefte en rede is. Dit is nie finaal nie. Tog blyk dit dat sekere partye dit nie net wil verander nie, maar grootliks wil wegdoen daarmee.

‘n Voorbeeld is die EFF wat private eiendomsreg in geheel wil skrap. Dit terwyl dié party se leier eiendom van meer as R35 miljoen besit. Dit maak dit duidelik dat eiendomsreg sekere mense soms pas en ander kere weer nie.

Suid-Afrika se Grondwet is veronderstel om nasiebou en sosiale kohesie onder almal te bevorder. Die vraag is of dit wel daarin geslaag het om ‘n verenigde nasionale identiteit te skep.

Dit is wel so dat sommige mense die indruk kry dat hul behoeftes en aspirasies ongeag ‘n grondwet geminag word.

Ongelyke behandeling oor sekere gebeure in die verlede kan as voorbeeld genoem word. Daar is tans regsaksies aan die gang teen sekere persone oor beweerde vergrype terwyl ander oor die hoof gesien word. Dit dui op bevooroordeling.

Hieroor het die tussentydse Grondwet dit duidelik gemaak dat daar wedersydse begrip moet wees en nie wraak nie, herstel en nie vergelding nie, ubuntu en nie viktimisering nie.

Is dit wat alle mense in die land ervaar? Indien nie, is dit onregverdig. Die Grondwet is geskryf om almal gelyk en regverdig te behandel.

Daar is sekere ruimtes in die Grondwet wat nog nie ten volle benut en uitgebou is nie. Indien dit wel gebeur, sal dit tot ‘n groot mate meewerk om sosiale kohesie te bevorder en daartoe bydra dat alle gemeenskappe, ook minderhede, geakkomodeer voel.

‘n Nuwe regering kan help om hierdie gees van versoening te laat leef.

Grondwet beskerm wel teen vergrype | Vryheidsfront Plus (Parlementsdebat: 30ste herdenking van die Grondwet) Suid-Afrika se Grondwet bied wel beskerming teen vergrype. Die feit dat daar soveel pogings is om dit

President moet oop kaarte speel oor Phala Phala sodat die regering van Suid-Afrika in almal se belang prioriteit kan geniet

Dr Corne Mulder

(Begrotingsposdebat: Presidensie)

President Cyril Ramaphosa moet die Phala Phala-aangeleentheid vinnig en eerlik hanteer en afhandel sodat daar aan beweeg kan word na dít wat in alle landsburgers se belang prioriteit moet geniet: Die behoorlike regering van Suid-Afrika.

Wanneer dit gebeur, moet veral Suid-Afrika se beleid oor buitelandse betrekkinge dringend aandag geniet.

Die maatreëls en riglyne vir meer doeltreffende koördinering van internasionale skakeling is in 2009 goedgekeur en die tyd het aangebreek vir ‘n algehele hersiening en opknapping van dié beleid. Dit moet gedoen word. Die wêreld en die internasionale klimaat het sedert 2009 baie verander.

Suid-Afrika sal sekere aspekte van sy VSA-beleid moet herbedink. Die VSA bly die grootste ekonomie met die sterkste weermag ter wêreld en Suid-Afrika kan hom nie op ‘n vyandige wyse behandel nie.

Dit is wel positief dat albei lande nou op ambassadeursvlak verteenwoordig word en dit is ‘n goeie vertrekpunt om die verhouding met Washington te verbeter wat net tot Suid-Afrika se voordeel kan wees.

Suid-Afrika moet bereid wees om sekere billike toegewings te maak. Laat ons die uitstaande sake wat in die pad van so ‘n ooreenkoms staan – die vyf kritieke voorwaardes van die VSA – aanspreek.

Die voordele wat hieruit kan spruit, kan só ingrypend en positief wees dat dit die huidige druk op die presidensie in ‘n gees van optimisme en verwagtinge vir miljoene Suid-Afrikaners sal laat vervaag.

Die kern van ’n nuwe ooreenkoms behoort ’n pakt oor kritieke minerale te wees. Suid-Afrika kan strategiese toegang bied tot die eksplorasie, mynbou, en veral die suiwering van platinumgroepmetale, mangaan, vanadium, seldsame aardelemente en titanium.

Die VSA kan dit ewenaar met amptelike langtermyn-ooreenkomste, geteikende reserwebou-programme, en finansiering vir verwerkingskapasiteit tot in die finale fase.

‘n Johannesburg-gebaseerde kritiese minerale-beurs gekoppel aan Amerikaanse markte kan voorsieningskettings ontsluit en Suid-Afrika as ‘n globale verwerkings- en handelskern posisioneer.

Hierdie vennootskap sal ekonomiese geleenthede ontsluit en vir die VSA veilige, strategiese grondstowwe verseker.

Die strategiese voordele sal onmiddellik wees: Die VSA verseker hiermee betroubare voorrade vir die vervaardiging van elektriese voertuie, vliegtuie en gevorderde nywerhede, terwyl Suid-Afrika homself posisioneer as ’n globale verwerkings- en handelskern – in stede van bloot die eindpunt van ’n ander land se waardeketting.

‘n Nuwe VSA/SA/Midde-Ooste-spilpunt vir mynboutegnologie, naspeurbare voorsieningskettings en KI-monitering sal aansienlike beleggings lok van Amerikaanse private-ekwiteitsfirmas en soewereine welvaartfondse uit die Golfstate.

Hierdie minerale-ooreenkoms kan Suid-Afrika se BBP met $40 miljard verhoog en sowat 500 000 werksgeleenthede skep regdeur die mynbou-, verwerkings-, energie-, logistieke en dienstesektore.

Dit sal ekonomiese groei tot 5% per jaar dryf en werkloosheid mettertyd halveer. Vir die VSA kan direkte winste uit minerale, gasuitvoere en landbou $75 miljard oorskry, wat die verlaging van Suid-Afrika se algemene tariewe na 10% regverdig en handelsvoorregte onder Agoa beveilig.

Die deur na die Withuis staan oop en die tyd is nou reg om ‘n waterskeidings-ooreenkoms met die Trump-administrasie te sluit wat ongekende voorspoed vir Suid-Afrika en sy mense sal bring. Die alternatief is verdere agteruitgang.

Die VF Plus is bereid om elke tree van hierdie pad met die regering te stap. Dit kán gedoen word!

https://www.vfplus.org.za/af/jongste-nuus/president-moet-oop-kaarte-speel-oor-phala-phala-sodat-die-regering-van-suid-afrika-in-almal-se-belang-prioriteit-kan-geniet/

President must play open cards about Phala Phala so that governing South Africa can be top priority

Dr Corne Mulder

(Budget Vote Debate: Presidency)

President Cyril Ramaphosa should deal with the Phala Phala matter swiftly and honestly so that the focus can shift to what should be the top priority in the interest of all South Africans: properly governing South Africa.

Once this has happened, South Africa’s international relations policy should urgently be addressed.

The country’s measures and guidelines for the effective coordination of international engagements were approved in 2009, and the time is ripe for a comprehensive review and overhaul of this policy. It simply has to happen. The world and the international climate have changed dramatically since 2009.

South Africa will have to rethink certain aspects of its policy towards the United States (US). The US remains the world’s largest economy with the strongest military, and South Africa cannot afford to be hostile towards it.

It is encouraging that both countries are now represented at ambassadorial level, as this provides a good starting point to improve relations with Washington – something that can only be to South Africa’s advantage.

South Africa must be willing to make certain fair concessions. Let us consider the unaddressed issues standing in the way of a mutually beneficial agreement – the five critical conditions set by the US.

The benefits that could flow from this could be so profound and positive that they would overshadow the current pressure on the Presidency by stirring up a spirit of optimism and expectation in millions of South Africans.

At the heart of a new agreement should be a pact on critical minerals. South Africa could offer strategic access to the exploration, mining and especially the refining of platinum group metals, manganese, vanadium, rare earth elements and titanium.

The US could match this with long term offtake commitments, targeted reserve building programmes and financing for processing capacity that goes beyond, to actual throughput.

A Johannesburg-based critical minerals exchange, linked to US commodity markets, could unlock supply chains and position South Africa as a global processing and trading hub.

This partnership would unlock economic opportunities for South Africa while securing reliable, strategic raw materials for the US.

The strategic payoffs would be immediate: the US would secure trusted supplies for the manufacturing of electric vehicles, aircraft and advanced industries, while South Africa would position itself as a global processing and trading hub – not just a mine pit at the end of another country’s value chain.

A US/Africa/Middle East hub for mining technology, supply chain traceability and AI driven monitoring will draw investment from US private equity firms and Gulf sovereign wealth funds.

This minerals agreement could increase South Africa’s GDP by $40 billion and create approximately 500 000 jobs across the mining, processing, energy, logistics and services sectors.

It would drive up economic growth to 5% per year and halve unemployment over time. For the US, direct gains from minerals, gas exports and agriculture could exceed $75 billion, justifying the reduction of South Africa’s general tariff to 10% and guaranteeing trade privileges under AGOA.

With an open door to the White House, the time is now to secure a landmark deal with the Trump administration, one that can deliver prosperity for South Africa and its people. The alternative is perpetual decline.

The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) is willing to walk with government every step of the way. It CAN be done!

President must play open cards about Phala Phala so that governing South Africa can be top priority | Freedom Front Plus (Budget Vote Debate: Presidency) President Cyril Ramaphosa should deal with the Phala Phala matter swiftly and honestly so that the focus can shift to