Stop the Secrecy Law
Text by Graham Theobald
ShowMe does not normally get involved in politics. Our objective is to provide quality information about places and communities in South Africa.
However, the “Secrecy Bill” (Protection of Information Bill) being voted on in Parliament today harks back to Black Wednesday on 19 October 1977 when the Minister of Police banned a number of publications in South Africa. If this draconian bill passes today it will go down in the history books as Black Tuesday.
ShowMe protests, in the strongest terms, this dangerous move by the ruling party to muzzle the press exactly when we need transparency to deal with widespread corruption, cronyism and mal-administration. The government has also gone back on its word – the Chief Whips and Vice President Motlanthe promised full public participation in September. This has been a sham. The recommendation by most publishers in South Africa that they include a “public interest” clause has been ignored.
We demand that:
- The ANC halts the vote and throws out this draconian bill that puts a shroud over government and undermines South Africa’s hard won freedoms.
- We specifically object to the Secrecy Law that: gives up to 25 year jail sentences for anyone holding classified information; removes any protection for whistleblowers; has no public interest clause; and has no independent appeals mechanism.
- We appeal to Deputy President Motlanthe to use his powers to halt the vote until a public interest defense clause is included as he announced earlier this month.
- We ask Chief Whip Davidson to bring the citizens messages to the floor of the debate.