Minister still 'stubborn' on Secrecy Bill changes, protests set to intensify

"Judging by his ever more desperate attempts at spin, the minister is clearly feeling the heat, but we will not be put off course and we will continue our week of action, culminating in a mass march to Parliament and Durban City Hall [this] Wednesday, October 27," the Right2Know campaign said in a statement.

Cwele claimed in September to have heard the public's concerns and even outlined proposed changes, which critics described as 'cosmetic at best'.

Blew it

But, when he appeared before Parliament's ad-hoc committee last week, he blew it. He categorically rejected the criticism levelled against the bill, calling it illegitimate and stating that the bill in its current form was in line with the Constitution, international human rights charters and conventions, and international best practices.

Cwele said: "Those who continue to argue against the bill, following our proposals on 17 September 2010 and today, are basically of the view that South Africa has no legitimate national security to protect."

Those who oppose the Secrecy Bill argue that the legislation will stifle the free flow of information - the lifeblood of an open, responsive and accountable democracy - and hamper investigative journalism and send SA back to the inferno of apartheid days.

William Bird, of the Media Monitoring Africa (MMA), said on Sunday 24 October: "We regret that both the minister and the state security agency recently refused to supply a copy of the minister's first submission to this same ad-hoc committee. The reason given was that 'disclosure could reasonably be expected to cause prejudice to the defence and security of the republic'.

"Made in public"

"This claim was made despite the fact that the submission presentation was made in public, that its content was widely reported, and that a transcript and recording of the submission were available online. (See www.facebook.com/mediamattersza, entries on 5, 12 and 13 October 2010)."

Bird added: "As the MMA, we believe that there is a real fear that this bill, if enacted, will be used to hide information that government ministers and civil servants may view as embarrassing, damaging or politically difficult.

"Unless there is a real and effective way for people to access and publish information that 'is in the public interest' this proposed legislation would violate rather than protect the rights of South African citizens."

For more:

• Business Day: Cwele's secrecy bill remarks 'hot air'
  
• News24: Info bill won't be passed if unconstitutional
  
• Times Live: Stand firm on information bill, Cwele pleads
  
• Information Bill: Cwele simply does not get it: DA