Any state agency, government department, even a parastatal and your local municipality, would be able to classify public information as secret. Over 1000 institutions would be granted this power.
The definitions of ‘national security’ remain vague and open to abuse. Even ordinary information relating to service delivery can become secret. Officials do not need to provide reason for making information secret.
Anyone involved in the ‘unauthorized’ disclosure of classified information can be prosecuted; not just the state official who leaks information. Even sharing information via Twitter and Facebook could become a crime.
The disclosure even of some information which is not formally classified can land citizens in jail. This will lead to self-censorship and have a chilling effect on free speech.
Whistleblowers, bloggers and journalists could face harsh prison sentences for releasing classified information in the public interest; they would spend more time in prison than officials who deliberately conceal public information that should be disclosed. Even the leaking of secret information in the public interest is criminalised.
A complete veil is drawn over the workings of the intelligence services. It will prevent public scrutiny of our spies should they abuse their power or breach human rights.

The People shall speak

Thousands of people across South Africa have united against the proposed Protection of Information Bill (the Secrecy Bill) being discussed in Parliament.

It threatens to drag South Africa back to apartheid-era secrecy and undermine community struggles for access to information. Despite widespread protests from the public, the ANC is trying to finalise the proposed law by 24 June.

The Secrecy Bill is swimming against the tide. From Tunisia to Spain, From Cape to Cairo, we demand our right to know & to speak freely. Especially about how we are governed.

The issue is bigger than this Bill - Sadly, many of our people are denied the power of the freedom to speak & access to information because of unequal access to the internet, as well as the exorbitant cost of telecoms in South Africa.

While activists are mobilising communities in South Africa (Join if you can) to take to the streets to stop the Secrecy Bill , send a message to the Secrecy Bill's architect, Minister of State Security Siyabonga Cwele, on why he can't stem the flow of information with this or any other measure.

Latest news: Cosatu comes out against the Security Bill.

Leave a message to Mr Siyabonga Cwele below:

For more information join the Right2Know campaign.

This page was made independently by RAAK for a democratic, fair and open South Africa.