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Gauteng MEC fobs off 'risky' furniture-related questions

10 Oct 2011

The Star's Louise Flanagan is confused: "[I]s it a washing machine with a wicked spin cycle? A malfunctioning refrigerator? Malicious knives and forks? An out-of-control home gym? Dirty dishcloths?" Flanagan is unsure what is it that's in the Gauteng premier's state house that her government can't tell us about because public knowledge of it is regarded as just too dangerous.

It appears that the official line from Gauteng is that telling people what's in the state-owned house and how much it costs is "a risk to the safety and necessary confidentiality" of those living in it.

"You may choke on your cornflakes at the foolishness of such a response," says Flanagan, "but it's a hint of what could be in store if the controversial Protection of State Information Bill becomes law." It appears that last week, Gauteng Infrastructure MEC Bheki Nkosi declined to give clear answers to questions raised in the legislature by DA MPL Jack Bloom about exactly what furniture was in the state-owned house and how much it cost.

Nkosi fobbed off the questions with vague claims of risk and confidentiality - "the department regards the matter as a risk to the safety and necessary confidentiality of the occupants of the house and, therefore, deems that we retain the right to not divulge any details," replied Nkosi. Bloom said he couldn't understand the need for secrecy. "I can't conceive how this could be a state secret. It's obviously exorbitantly expensive and they want to cover it up," he said, adding "How could it possibly impact on security how much was paid and what they got?"

Read the full article on www.iol.co.za.