R2K welcomes ANC’s concessions: at last, the real work can begin
The Right2Know campaign welcomes the ANC’s concessions on the Protection of Information Bill (the Secrecy Bill) on Friday, which we take as a sign that there is a commitment to begin the mammoth task of fixing the Bill. It is a first, but important step, which may signal a willingness by democrats within Parliament and government to push back against an apparent grab for power by securocrats within the state. This would have been impossible without the voice of ordinary South Africans who have led the struggle for the Right2Know campaign over the past year.
[Read R2K’s briefing note: “What do these concessions mean?”]
We applaud the multitude of South Africans and international supporters who are raising their voices in protest at the Bill’s current draconian clauses. It is testament to the public pressure applied by civil society and the people of South Africa to oppose the Bill’s draconian provisions, which would punish whistleblowers and undermine demands for transparent and accountable governance.
We also welcome MPs’ remarks that the ANC is committed to ensuring the constitutionality of each clause of the Bill. This is a vital commitment to ensure that earlier attempts to rush the Bill through Parliament with issues unresolved will not be repeated.
We view this as a first step in the right direction; there is much work to be done if the Bill is to be rid of its draconian secrecy clauses. We must remember that these concessions were won through months of public outcry, community mobilisation and activism. We hope this can be the start of a new and positive period of engagement that will result in all of Right2Know’s seven demands being met.
In short, we hope that the real work on the Secrecy Bill can now begin.
For comment please contact:
Murray Hunter (National coordinator): 072 672 5468
Sithembile Mbete (R2K Western Cape): 083 686 2554
Dale McKinley (R2K Gauteng): 072 429 4086
Quinton Kippen (R2K KwaZulu-Natal): 083 871 7549
