Senior politicians, business leaders, policy thinkers, and South Africans from all walks of life convened to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the South African Constitution.
The seminar was hosted by the Consulate of Sweden in Cape Town on Tuesday, May 12.
Honorary consul Carl Fredrik Sammeli brought together leaders from business, politics, policy, and civil society to reflect on the enduring role of constitutional protection and particularly property rights in shaping South Africa’s future.
The event marks 30 years, almost to the exact date, since the adoption of the Constitution on 8 May, 1996.
Nonkosi Klaas, a homeowner from Langa, shared her story of how she became a financially strong landlord after receiving her title deed in 1995.
Twenty-eight years after receiving her title deed, she partnered with the Swedish-founded, pioneering socio-economic enterprise Bitprop, based in Cape Town.
Mr Sammeli said Ms Klaas was an example of how secure property rights, as enabled by Section 25 of the Constitution, could transform lives and build intergenerational wealth.
The section is known as the property clause and protects the right to own property while enabling land reform.
She said her family had struggled before receiving the title deed. They paid rent to the City of Cape Town, but upon becoming a homeowner, she had to repair what was broken and pay her water and electricity bills.
"I am a retired woman who never thought I could own flats, but Bitprop came and changed my life; that is why I am called a landlord," she said.
Ms Klaas is now a landlord of six rental units in her backyard.
"Becoming a homeowner made me and my family feel proud," she said.
Ms Klaas's story formed part of a broader discussion with Leon Louw, an advocate for free-market principles, property rights, and constitutional reforms.
Mr Leon spoke about the need for diversity in policies to reflect the various religions, races, and cultural backgrounds of South Africans.
He also said that public participation in government policies was a cornerstone of democratic governance - designed to ensure that policies were transparent, legitimate, and reflected the needs of its citizens.
He emphasised that the word "part" in participation meant that the public had to be part of the process that led to a result and should "not just be briefed".
"One size fits all is always necessarily wrong. What is correct for Constantia is not correct for Gugulethu; and what's good for Gugulethu is not correct for the Tugela basin, and if the same thing is being done in all three, and all places around the country. The fact that there is sameness is a mistake. The fact that there is diversity means that some might be wrong and some might be right," he said.
Mr Leon advised that communities could differ as to how services - including building codes, how gardens were maintained, and refuse removal - should be delivered.
"They can differ very hugely from each other, but there must be diversity," he said.
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