SwissCham SA voices Secrecy Bill concerns

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Lindsey Schutters

In a statement, SwissCham Southern Africa (SCSA) voiced satisfaction that the Protection of State Information Bill has been withdrawn, albeit temporarily, for 'further consultation'. However, SCSA said it is concerned that the consultations will take place via an internal party committee, instead of through the formal parliamentary committee that was previously processing the bill, and that, as a result, the consultations will avoid public scrutiny - an indispensable element in any democratic process.

SCSA represents Swiss business in the region. Switzerland is the fifth most important investment and trading partner to South Africa and one of the oldest republican states firmly entrenched in democratic principles. It calls on the South African government to take heed of several objections raised against the Bill, including the vital objection that the Bill - as finalised by the parliamentary committee - included no provisions to protect journalists and other whistleblowers in the public interest.

According to SCSA, introducing legislation of this kind at a time of mounting allegations of corruption and lack of accountability inevitably prompts the question of whether there is something that needs to be hidden. South Africa's business environment has, in recent years, been considered a less attractive prospect for investment, says SCSA, because of perceptions of over-regulation, uncertainties over property rights, an unbalanced labour law and frequent strikes which often turn violent.

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