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The Free Market Foundation (FMF) is a Libertarian South African think tank. The FMF was founded in 1975 to “promote and foster an open society, the rule of law, personal liberty, and economic and press freedom as fundamental components of its advocacy of human rights and democracy based on classical liberal principles.” The FMF attempts to achieve its goals through, submissions on laws, policy proposals to government, promotion of its ideas in the media in order to win public support for its views and financial and legal assistance to projects and people that are in line with its goals. Among the Free Market Foundations notable leaders are South African Intellectual Leon Louw and “Black like me” founder and businessman, Herman Mashaba.

Founding and activities during Apartheid
Among the FMFs most prominent founders was South African intellectual and activist, Leon Louw. The founding of the FMF was endorsed by several consumer unions including the National Black Consumer Union, and the National Consumer Union. During the Apartheid era the FMF gave presentations to various institutions such as the United States congress about a peaceful resolution to Apartheid. In 1986 Leon Louw, who was and remains the Executive Director of the FMF, and his wife Frances Kendall, published a book about resolving Apartheid called "The Solution" which became a best seller in South Africa and which called for a federal South Africa based on the Swiss model. During the CODESA negotiations the FMF led a group of businesses which became known as “The Business Caucus” which was influential in the inclusion of a property rights clause into the constitution. Executive director of the Free Market Foundation Leon Louw made submissions to the African National Congress(ANC) at the Dakar conference whilst it was in exile to adopt privatisation and property rights as part of its platform.

Positions on current government policy
The FMF has made serval high profile submissions on laws and policy since 1994.

Labour

 * On the 5th of March 2013 the FMF launched a court bid to challenge the legislation that made the extension of collective bargaining agreements to 3rd parties mandatory for the labour minister. The bid aims to have the legislation changed to allow the minister to have a choice in whether to extend collective bargaining agreements to 3rd parties. COSATU has opposed the bid on the grounds that it will weaken the current collective bargaining system..

Tripartite Alliance

 * The FMF has expressed opposition to the alliance between COSATU and the ANC. The FMF claims that COSATU and the ANC’s alliance has harmed the ANC’s policy making ability. FMF executive director Leon Louw has said that “COSATU is Schizophrenic about whether it is the government or a labour union.” He also compared the COSATU ANC alliance to an alliance between church and the state or business and the state.

Energy

 * On Energy policy: The FMF has called for the monopoly of Eskom to be broken up and for independent power producers to produce a greater share of South Africa’s electricity. The FMF believe that an open market for electricity will lead to lower prices per kw/h and an increased supply of electricity..

Land Reform

 * On land reform the FMF believes that government should “give black South Africans freehold titles for the land that they live on.”.

Policy influence
The 2010 Global Go To Think Tank Index Report rated the Free Market Foundation as the 3rd most influential think tank in Southern Africa. The FMF has been most influential in changing consumer related regulations, most notably the extension of shopping hours. .

Political affiliation
The FMF is not affiliated to any political party and does not endorse any candidates during elections.

Herman Mashaba joins the DA
In 2014 Herman Mashaba, the FMF chairperson at the time, announced his intention to step down as FMF chairperson as he planned to join the Democratic Alliance as an “ordinary card carrying member”. Regarding his reasoning as to why he was stepping down, Mashaba said that “it is important that this proud organisation remains politically impartial in its vital work.” He remains an ordinary member of the FMF. .

Publications

 * Nationalisation, compiled by Temba A. Nolutshungu
 * Jobs Jobs Jobs, compiled by Temba A. Nolutshungu
 * Habits of Highly Effective Countries by Leon Louw.