Open Society Foundations Celebrate 25 Years in South Africa
27 November 2018
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA—The Open Society Foundations are pleased to announce a series of celebratory events in Cape Town, from November 29 to November 30, to mark the 25th anniversary of the Open Society Foundation for South Africa, a member of the family of offices and foundations created by philanthropist George Soros.
Several of the events will take place at the Open Society Foundation for South Africa’s new offices in the center of Cape Town, as well as spaces around the city. On November 30, the Foundation will host a public lecture at Cape Town’s City Hall, featuring Ghanaian politician Samia Nkrumah. The lecture commemorates the series of Open Society Lectures started by George Soros in 1994.
“I am delighted to celebrate this important milestone for a foundation that has special significance for me,” said Soros. “When I first came to the country nearly four decades ago, South Africa was a completely closed society. Since then, we have seen the dream of democracy take shape. I am proud of what the Foundation and its grantees have achieved over the years and the work they continue to do.”
The Open Society Foundation for South Africa opened its offices in Cape Town in 1993, but Soros’s history in South Africa dates back to 1979. While the country was under apartheid, his support helped 80 black students study at the University of Cape Town. This was the start of Soros’s philanthropic journey, which has since expanded to include work in every region of the world with a total annual budget of around $1 billion.