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& IZWE LAMI
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ABOUT US
Liberty, enterprise, property rights, free trade, innovation, and accountable governance
Advancing economic freedom, reducing barriers to growth, empowering individuals, and protecting opportunity for every South African.
Leon Louw founded the Free Market Foundation in 1973 and built it into Africa’s leading libertarian policy institute. For more than five decades, he has been a voice of clarity and conviction in the pursuit of liberty, shaping constitutional reform, influencing economic policy, and inspiring generations to think freely.
Today, his work continues through the Freedom Foundation and its ongoing series Through the Liberty Lens. An initiative dedicated to exposing barriers to growth and challenging policies that restrict enterprise, trade, and human potential.
We are deeply grateful to our funders and supporters who make this work possible. Their belief in freedom enables us to advocate across every sector where regulation, control, or inefficiency limits progress. From property rights to fair markets, from innovation to investment, our mission is to restore the conditions that allow people and businesses to thrive.
Through the Liberty Lens invites open conversation, informed critique, and pragmatic reform — because real freedom is achieved
in practice.
The Izwe Lami Freedom Foundation NPC is a registered not-for-profit company dedicated to advancing liberty and prosperity for all South Africans. Donations to the Foundation are fully tax-deductible.
Unlike traditional institutions, the new Foundation is designed for impact, not overhead. It operates through a lean, cloud-based structure — efficient, transparent, and accountable. By minimising administrative costs and avoiding the burden of large offices or bureaucracy, we ensure that nearly every rand goes directly into the cause of freedom.
This is modern advocacy: focused, digital, and driven by purpose.
Our early ‘philosopher king’, Dirk Hertzog, co-founder with Dr Antor Rupert of the Rembrandt-Remgro group, summarized the difference between activists, policy institutes and think-tanks as the difference between preachers and missionaries.
Preachers, he observed, preach to the converted, which is fine. Missionaries preach to savages in the jungle, which is difficult and dangerous. We, he said, are missionaries.We continue that legacy. The subverted FMF from which Leon was forced to disassociate himself became a philosophical echo chamber where all members must pay dues and declare their allegiance to ‘classical liberal’ principles, whatever they think that means.
We are the opposite. We reach out to and embrace all who wish to join or subscribe. We are philosophically confident and open.
WHAT WE DO
Policy Analysis and Submissions
We conduct in-depth policy analysis to understand the impacts of current and proposed government policies, providing comprehensive submissions to legislative bodies to advocate for policies that enhance freedom and prosperity.
Economic Policy
We focus on economic policies that drive growth, innovation, and prosperity. Our evaluations of tax policies, trade regulations, and labour laws aim to foster a dynamic and competitive economy.
Influence and Advocacy
Through strategic influence and advocacy, we shape public opinion and government action. We educate the public and policymakers on the benefits of free markets and individual liberties through media engagement, public events, and debates.
Rule of Law
Promoting the rule of law is central to our mission. We advocate for legal frameworks that protect individual rights and property, enabling all citizens to pursue their interests without undue state or government interference.
Research
Our rigorous research informs our policy positions and public discourse, covering topics like economic policy, individual liberty, and market freedom. Our advocacy is backed by solid evidence and data.
Proposed Policies
Our team develops and proposes policies to reduce government overreach and increase personal and economic freedoms. We provide detailed proposals to government officials and legislators, striving to influence change from the ground up.
YOUR SUPPORT GOES A LONG WAY
A LEGACY OF SOLUTIONS
1970s – The Rebel Thinker
When conformity ruled, Leon Louw questioned everything. In a South Africa shaped by control and censorship, he began to ask the simplest, most dangerous question of all: What if people were free?
1980s – The Unlikely Economist
While others debated ideology, Leon offered answers rooted in reality. The power of voluntary exchange and the dignity of ownership. His early writings and talks laid the foundation for what would become Africa’s leading libertarian movement.
1990s – The Constitutional Crusader
As the nation transformed, Leon stood firm on one principle: freedom without property rights is an illusion. His advocacy helped secure those rights in the new Constitution, ensuring that liberty was not just promised, but protected in law.
2000s – The Relentless Reformer
Never content with theory, Leon turned ideas into action by influencing trade, policy, and enterprise reforms that empowered individuals rather than institutions. His voice became a bridge between pragmatism and principle.
2010s – The Global Advocate
Leon took South Africa’s message of market-driven development to the world, proving that freedom is not a Western luxury but a universal necessity. He earned international recognition, multiple awards, and respect across ideological divides.
2020s – The Freedom Foundation
After five decades of advocacy, Leon’s mission has evolved. Through the Freedom Foundation and Through the Liberty Lens, he continues to confront control with common sense and transform complex problems into simple, workable solutions.
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The Freedom Foundation is the action centre for freedom in South Africa. This is where ideas meet impact and talk gives way to doing. It is an advocacy engine for commerce, choice, and common sense. We champion smaller government, freer markets, and greater personal responsibility. We believe that prosperity comes not from policy papers and red tape, but from people who are free to think, trade, and build without interference.
Leon Louw often said that South Africa’s real crisis is not poverty, but over-government — too many rules, too little reason. The Freedom Foundation exists to change that. We challenge the bureaucratic red tape that strangles initiative and replace it with practical, principled solutions that work.
Our work exposes inefficiency, defends enterprise, and turns policy paralysis into progress.
Freedom Foundation: less government, more opportunity, active results.
MEMBERSHIP
Restoring the sole of the old FMF, we are inclusive. (Members decide their own contributions)
The Freedom Foundation stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of the Free Market Foundation (FMF), embodying the core values and principles that once defined its predecessor. In our quest to restore the soul of the old FMF, we have committed ourselves to fostering an inclusive environment where every voice is heard and valued.
Join Us in Our Mission:
As we continue to build on the legacy of the FMF, we invite you to join us in our mission. By becoming a member of the Freedom Foundation, you become part of a vibrant, inclusive community dedicated to advancing the principles of freedom and prosperity for all. Your unique contributions and perspectives will help us drive meaningful change and ensure that the ideals of liberty remain at the forefront of public discourse.
Together, we can restore the soul of the old FMF and build a future where freedom and inclusivity thrive.
Complimentary Members
Join the Freedom Movement with Complimentary Membership
At the Freedom Foundation, we believe in the power of inclusivity and the importance of diverse voices in shaping a future of freedom and prosperity for all. To support this vision, we are excited to offer Complimentary Membership to individuals who are passionate about our mission and eager to contribute to our cause.
What is Complimentary Membership?
Our Complimentary Membership is designed to welcome individuals from all walks of life into our community without any financial obligation. This initiative ensures that everyone, regardless of their economic circumstances, can participate in and contribute to our efforts to promote liberty, free markets, and individual rights.
Online Contributions
Step 1: Navigate to the "Donate" section.
Step 2: Choose your preferred donation amount or enter a custom amount.
Step 3: Select your payment method (credit/debit card, EFT, etc.).
Step 4: Fill in your personal and payment details.
Step 5: Submit your donation.
In-Person Contributions
Bank Deposit or EFT:
Step 1: Visit any bank branch or use your online banking platform.
Step 2: Make a deposit or EFT to the following account details:
Bank: [Your Bank Name]
Account Name: Freedom Foundation
Account Number: [Your Account Number]
Branch Code: [Your Branch Code]
Reference: Please use your name or donor ID as a reference.
Events and Fundraisers:
Attend any of our fundraising events and make a donation in person. Our team will be available to assist you with the process and provide receipts for your contribution.
Contact Us for Assistance
If you need any assistance with making a donation or have any questions, please feel free to contact us:
Email: info@freedomfoundation.co.za
Phone: +27 67 401 8589
Your generosity helps us continue our vital work in promoting economic freedom, individual liberties, and a prosperous society. Thank you for your support!
Like to know more?
The Freedom Foundation works with citizens, business leaders, policy thinkers, and institutions that share a belief in progress through freedom. Our approach is not confrontational but constructive — we seek solutions that create win-win outcomes where fairness is balanced with freedom, and justice is measured by opportunity, not control.
We have already played a role in shaping and responding to key national debates — from the Wealth Project and the National Health Insurance Bill to the National Minimum Wage and labour law reform. In each, our goal is simple: to make policy work for all, not against enterprise and initiative.
If your organisation faces unnecessary regulation, policy barriers, or outdated laws that stifle growth, we want to hear from you. The Freedom Foundation helps identify practical, liberty-based solutions that benefit both business and society.
