Secrecy Bill – Where Do We Stand Now?
Members of Parliament have voted in favour of the Protection of State Information Bill. The bill still needs to be passed by the National Council of Provinces next year, but it has effectively been adopted by the National Assembly today based on majority vote. It has NOT yet been enacted. Editors staged a walkout as the announcement was made in Parliament.
At final count, there were 229 votes for the bill, and 107 against within the 400 member NA.
All political parties were given permission to make a declaration on the bill before a decision was taken on the legislation within the National Assembly this afternoon. The ANC was resoundingly in favour of the bill, while all opposition parties voted against it, with several parties, including the DA, COPE and the IFP, strongly criticising it for being unsafe for democracy in its current form.
Opposition, including DA Parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko, gave assurances this afternoon that they would continue to fight for the redrafting of the bill and that, should the NCOP pass the bill in its current form next year, the bill would be challenged in the Constitutional Court.
For the bill to head immediately to the Constitutional Court, one third of MPs – i.e. every single opposition MP, give or take two individuals – would need to agree.
The bill as it currently stands has been criticised for not having a public interest defence built into it, and for the “blanket secrecy” it could potentially bestow on the state’s intelligence structures.
[Source: TimesLive]
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4 Comments
Ash
22 Nov 2011
I’m disgusted but expect nothing less from the ANC of today.
Lindiwe, please save our butts from these morons.
Gerry
22 Nov 2011
I agree with Ash. Please save us Lindiwe.
Andrew
22 Nov 2011
The Courts and Press are gone. The most vital components of any democracy are now under government control.
An estimated R30bn lost this year in corruption and government incompetence, what this figure figure rise annually.
You’re a brave person if you see South Africa as your (or your children’s) future.
Paul
22 Nov 2011
For the first time in my life I question whether this is the place my children will call home.I always will.The very essence of democracy is at risk.If South Africa fails at democracy she will have nothing.Is it time for radical action? How do we go about it ? How do we combine our individual voices into a chorus that cant be ignored? Do young South Africans care enough?
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