Secrecy Bill - Views from South African Civil Society

South Africa has moved a step closer to passing the Protection of State Information Bill (Secrecy Bill) into law when 229 African National Congress (ANC) members of Parliament voted in favour of the Bill on 22 November 2011.

Civil society activists continue to argue that if passed, the Secrecy Bill will criminalise some of the freedoms that South Africans have been enjoying since 1994.

The following references highlight the views expressed by various South African civil society organisations in response to the Bill:

• COSATU - The Protection of (State) Information Bill and Current Parliamentary Process
• Freedom of Expression Institute is Deeply Disappointed at ANC’s Move to Vote on the Secrecy Bill
• Helen Suzman Foundation - Secrecy Bill and Tyranny
• IkamvaYouth - Why the Information Bill Matters to Us Ikamvanites
• Media Monitoring Africa - Secrecy Bill - Bad for the Country, Worse for South Africa’s International Reputation
• Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory - The Secrecy Bill Will Affect Your Right to Information
• Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory - Protection of State Information Bill – An Expression of Concern
• Open Democracy Advice Centre - Black Tuesday ‘Secrecy Bill’ – A Step Back from the Open Government Partnership
• South African National Editors’ Forum - Outcome of National Assembly Vote on the Protection of State Information Bill
• Treatment Action Campaign - Members of Parliament Should Reject the ‘Secrecy Bill

We invite NGO Pulse readers to continue the debate about the Bill on the NGO Pulse Portal.

Comments and articles should be e-mailed to editor@sangonet.org.za.