Mind what you say - or write

(Image: Israeli Defence Force, via Wikimedia Commons)

For more:

• BD Live: Role of judges rejected in 'eavesdropping' bill... So the ANC in Parliament rejected DA amendments to the General Intelligence Laws Amendment Bill that would require state authorities wishing to eavesdrop on any SA citizen's communications originating from outside of this country's borders, to first seek authorisation from a judge.

  It's done this way in real democracies... A security service or police organisation has to prove to a judge that the requested tap or eavesdropping on anyone's communications is justified and that there is probable cause for such an action. If the judge reckons the proof is inadequate, the tap or eavesdropping just doesn't happen.

  And that is the way it should be done here as well... In fact, allowing unfettered eavesdropping as the ANC wants, is probably unconstitutional (so there could well be a challenge there).

  

  (Image: GCIS)

• Mail & Guardian: Panel appointed to probe Dina Pule's conduct... The conduct of Communications Minister Dina Pule has been in the spotlight on far too many occasions recently - and for all the wrong reasons.
  We've had her lover allegedly scoring a large amount of cash from the ICT Indaba, and her own role in the appointment of a friend to a senior position in the SABC - and the friend was apparently incapable of doing the job. Then there are also a couple of instances of her alleged interference at the national broadcaster.