FW de Klerk gala dinner raises R300,000

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Mongezi Mtati

The 2014 Annual FW de Klerk Foundation Gala Dinner marked the 24th anniversary of the speech in which FW de Klerk initiated the process that led to the constitutional transformation of South Africa, and the 20th anniversary of Nelson Mandela and De Klerk receiving the Nobel Peace Prize.

The dinner took place at the Vineyard Hotel in Newlands, Cape Town recently.

The 2014 Annual Gala Dinner carried the theme of 'The New South Africa at 20: the Need for Real Transformation'. It was selected to adopt a positive approach to the 20th anniversary of the new South Africa, rather than a critical view of the many problems that confront us as citizens. "Let us confound the prophets of doom", said former President De Klerk in 2009.

New coin set

The FW de Klerk Foundation works to uphold the Constitution, our Bill of Rights and to encourage unity in diversity. At the dinner De Klerk was awarded a newly minted gold and silver coin set from the South African Gold Coin Exchange with both his and Mandela's faces and their united fists on the reverse.

Patrice Motsepe was the recipient of this year's FW de Klerk Goodwill Award, in recognition of his contribution to society at large and his prevalent role in philanthropy. The evening's entertainment was provided by the quattro male group, the Gugulethu Tenors, whose voices touched the souls of all guests and culminated in an auction by leading female auctioneer and co-founder of Clear Asset, Ariella Kuper.

In a mere eight minutes, Kuper raised over R300,000 by auctioning off a variety of items. All funds raised will be used to further the work of the Foundation and its Centre for Constitutional Rights.