OUR HERITAGE
The Free Market Foundation has an illustrious history that speaks to its consistent dedication to human freedom, rich symbolism that makes its work instantly recognisable, and a prestigious home from where the cause for liberty is prosecuted.
The Free Market Foundation was founded in August 1975 by a steering committee comprising Leon Louw (chair), Ed Emary, Mike Lillard, Fred Macaskill, André Spies, and Marc Swanepoel.
The FMF was concerned with (as it described it at the time) the ‘paradox’ of South Africa declaring itself to be a member of the ‘pro-capitalist’ West, complete with ‘anti-communist’ laws, but nonetheless being subject to ‘extending, creeping state tentacles which envelop, constrict, and eventually stifle’ free economic activity.
As the FMF declared in an editorial in 1976, ‘The Free Market Foundation is the only organization in the Republic with the singular goal of advancing capitalism.’
In the five decades since its founding, the FMF has not strayed from this singular goal.
Renowned Austrian economist FA von Hayek (left) stands alongside former Sanlam chair Andreas Wassenaar at an FMF function in 1978.
During the constitutional transition of the 1990s, the FMF was an active civil participant in the negotiations on how a post-Apartheid South Africa would look legally and politically. The Foundation opposed the inclusion of ‘public interest’ as a legitimate reason for the expropriation of private property, due to the vagueness and openness to abuse that such a notion represents. The FMF also cautioned against the inclusion of socio-economic entitlements in the Bill of Rights. The FMF rightly predicted at the time that the South African state would not have the resources to adequately give effect to such entitlements, and that treating these entitlements on par with rights was an untested and vague area of jurisprudence.
The FMF was nonetheless pleased with the largely liberal character of the Constitution, including a textually high bar for government to reach before it may limit civil liberties.
Since the dawn of democracy in South Africa, the FMF has continued to play a key role in public discourse around economic policy, legislation, and jurisprudence, as the country’s premier advocate of the self-determination of the individual.
FMF directors Temba A Nolutshungu (left) and Leon Louw (right) standing alongside Cyril Ramaphosa, Secretary-General of the African National Congress during the transition.
The Free Market Foundation has had three logos since its founding in 1975.
circa 1975-2010
2010-2023
2023-present
The current logo, adopted in November 2023, is symbolically rich.
The shape of the logo is immediately recognisable as the flame of liberty, but also as the open wing of a bird of prey, and the rustling grass of Africa’s plains. The FMF believes that all these interpretations embody the FMF’s beliefs and purposes.
The orange portion at the foundation of the logo represents the flame of liberty, as the foundation of the FMF’s worldview. The freedom of the individual and of voluntary communities to govern themselves is what fundamentally motivates our work.
The grey middle of the logo represents the feathered wing of an African martial eagle, signalling vigilance, independence, and fortitude as irreplaceable defence mechanisms for liberty. Advocacy of freedom is important, but insufficient, to guarantee it – practical stateproofing is needed.
The teal backbone of the logo represents peaceful, undisturbed, growing grass. Economic growth and prosperity, human progress, and social harmony are the necessary consequences of a society that jealously protects liberty.
The Free Market Foundation took occupation of its new headquarters, Northwards House, on 1 December 2023. The historic property is located at 21 Rockridge Road, Parktown, Johannesburg.
Designed in 1904, during the ‘Randlord’ era of Parktown’s history, by the renowned architect, Sir Herbert Baker, Northwards House was home first to the Dale Lace and then Albu families. It has since then served as an office of the South African Broadcasting Corporation and the Transvaal Provincial Administration, and a dormitory of the Johannesburg College of Education.
Today, Northwards House is a provincial heritage site with the FMF as its main tenant. Other tenants on the premises include the Johannesburg Heritage Foundation and the Association of Corporate Treasurers of Southern Africa. Over weekends, Northwards is also a popular wedding and piano recital venue.
Sir Herbert Baker is known primarily for designing the Union Buildings, Pretoria and Rhodes House, Oxford, among others.
The Free Market Foundation was founded in August 1975 by a steering committee comprising Leon Louw (chair), Ed Emary, Mike Lillard, Fred Macaskill, André Spies, and Marc Swanepoel.
The FMF was concerned with (as it described it at the time) the ‘paradox’ of South Africa declaring itself to be a member of the ‘pro-capitalist’ West, complete with ‘anti-communist’ laws, but nonetheless being subject to ‘extending, creeping state tentacles which envelop, constrict, and eventually stifle’ free economic activity.
As the FMF declared in an editorial in 1976, ‘The Free Market Foundation is the only organization in the Republic with the singular goal of advancing capitalism.’
In the five decades since its founding, the FMF has not strayed from this singular goal.
Renowned Austrian economist FA von Hayek (left) stands alongside former Sanlam chair Andreas Wassenaar at an FMF function in 1978.
During the constitutional transition of the 1990s, the FMF was an active civil participant in the negotiations on how a post-Apartheid South Africa would look legally and politically. The Foundation opposed the inclusion of ‘public interest’ as a legitimate reason for the expropriation of private property, due to the vagueness and openness to abuse that such a notion represents. The FMF also cautioned against the inclusion of socio-economic entitlements in the Bill of Rights. The FMF rightly predicted at the time that the South African state would not have the resources to adequately give effect to such entitlements, and that treating these entitlements on par with rights was an untested and vague area of jurisprudence.
The FMF was nonetheless pleased with the largely liberal character of the Constitution, including a textually high bar for government to reach before it may limit civil liberties.
Since the dawn of democracy in South Africa, the FMF has continued to play a key role in public discourse around economic policy, legislation, and jurisprudence, as the country’s premier advocate of the self-determination of the individual.
FMF directors Temba A Nolutshungu (left) and Leon Louw (right) standing alongside Cyril Ramaphosa, Secretary-General of the African National Congress during the transition.
The Free Market Foundation has had three logos since its founding in 1975.
circa 1975-2010
2010-2023
2023-present
The current logo, adopted in November 2023, is symbolically rich.
The shape of the logo is immediately recognisable as the flame of liberty, but also as the open wing of a bird of prey, and the rustling grass of Africa’s plains. The FMF believes that all these interpretations embody the FMF’s beliefs and purposes.
The orange portion at the foundation of the logo represents the flame of liberty, as the foundation of the FMF’s worldview. The freedom of the individual and of voluntary communities to govern themselves is what fundamentally motivates our work.
The grey middle of the logo represents the feathered wing of an African martial eagle, signalling vigilance, independence, and fortitude as irreplaceable defence mechanisms for liberty. Advocacy of freedom is important, but insufficient, to guarantee it – practical stateproofing is needed.
The teal backbone of the logo represents peaceful, undisturbed, growing grass. Economic growth and prosperity, human progress, and social harmony are the necessary consequences of a society that jealously protects liberty.
The Free Market Foundation took occupation of its new headquarters, Northwards House, on 1 December 2023. The historic property is located at 21 Rockridge Road, Parktown, Johannesburg.
Designed in 1904, during the ‘Randlord’ era of Parktown’s history, by the renowned architect, Sir Herbert Baker, Northwards House was home first to the Dale Lace and then Albu families. It has since then served as an office of the South African Broadcasting Corporation and the Transvaal Provincial Administration, and a dormitory of the Johannesburg College of Education.
Today, Northwards House is a provincial heritage site with the FMF as its main tenant. Other tenants on the premises include the Johannesburg Heritage Foundation and the Association of Corporate Treasurers of Southern Africa. Over weekends, Northwards is also a popular wedding and piano recital venue.
Sir Herbert Baker is known primarily for designing the Union Buildings, Pretoria and Rhodes House, Oxford, among others.