2012-09-26 19:53
Cape Town – The DA Abroad will lead a protest on Friday by South Africans living in London against the Protection of State Information Bill.
DA Abroad global chairperson Ludre Stevens said the demonstration at the SA High Commission was a bid to draw attention to the “dangerous” consequences that would follow if Parliament were to pass the current draft of the bill.
“If this secrecy bill were to be enacted in its current form, we might never be able to access the truth of what [really] happened at the Marikana tragedy, or get to the bottom of the controversial arms deal.”
The bill has been rewritten extensively but critics say many problem areas remain, notably the lack of a public interest defence for those who publish state secrets to reveal wrongdoing.
It is expected to be adopted by the National Council of Provinces next month and then referred back to the National Assembly before it is signed into law.
The ANC has indicated it is not prepared to make further concessions on the bill, which has arguably prompted more public protest than any other piece of post-apartheid legislation.
– SAPA
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Info bill protest in London