Helen Suzman Foundation

The Helen Suzman Foundation was founded in 1993 to honour the life work of Helen Suzman. The Foundation seeks to promote the values espoused by Helen Suzman throughout her public life and in her devotion to public service. Our liberalism is grounded in Helen’s legacy, and draws from the history of liberal thought in South Africa. It is our firm belief that the Constitution of South Africa is a liberal document. In its preamble it calls for “a society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights”, which aims to “free the potential of each person” and where “every citizen is equally protected by law”. We promote good governance, transparency and accountability. We advocate policies that translate the aspirations of our Constitution into lived reality for all South Africans. We are not aligned to any particular political party, but rather participate proactively in public debates to promote Constitutional values. “By liberalism I don’t mean the creed of any party or any century. I mean generosity of spirit, a tolerance of others, an attempt to comprehend otherness, a commitment to the rule of law, a high ideal of the worth and dignity of man, a repugnance for authoritarianism and a love of freedom.” — Alan Paton