Info bill 'has constitutional implications

Info bill 'has constitutional implications'
2011-11-22 10:40




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Johannesburg - The protection of state information bill (POIB) has huge constitutional implications and should not be passed in its current form, the Right2Know Campaign said on Tuesday.

Speaking amongst a group of protesters gathered outside Luthuli House, a member of the campaign, Glenda Daniels, said the media have already had a taste of what's to come should the bill be passed.

She was referring to the recent charges brought against the Mail & Guardian and two journalists by presidential spokesperson Mac Maharaj over a story.

"We will not stop fighting and no, we haven't lost hope."

She added that the next option would be to bring the matter to the Constitutional Court.

Protests

The bill will come before the National Assembly for a vote later on Tuesday. There were protests against the bill taking place in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban and Cape Town.

Some of the protesters outside Luthuli House stood on opposite sides of the road carrying placards which read "Sine lungelo lokwazi" which translates "we have the right to know".

Other placards read "We won't be silent", "Let the truth be told" and "Don't think you are going to conceal fault by concealing evidence."

The National Press Club asked people opposed to the bill to wear black clothes, a black ribbon or a black armband.

It named the campaign "Black Tuesday", based on what became known as "Black Wednesday" - October 19 1977, when the apartheid government banned The World, the Sunday World and a Christian publication Pro Veritas, as well as almost 20 people and organisations associated with the black consciousness movement.

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- SAPA

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