NO APARTHEID LAWS IN SOUTH AFRICA!!! MARCH THIS SATURDAY SEPT 17th AGAINST SECRECY BILL

I think one of the starkest threats to South Africa’s future right now is the possible passing of the Information Bill – also known as The Secrecy Bill. This is pure poison to South Africa, blocking press freedom. As the bill stands now, anyone who discloses “classified” information can be charged with a crime, regardless of whether that information is in the public interest.

Last night, I went to the annual Steve Biko lecture. Those who told the truth about how Biko was killed by the secret police would be charged under the Information Bill if it happened today and the Information Bill was Law.

It is shocking that the ANC who fought against how the freedom of the press was blocked in order for the Apartheid Government to hide its wrongdoings is now trying to protect our new government from exposure of its own wrongdoings. The Mail & Guardian has compiled a list of stories that would not have been told (without journalists facing prison time) under the Information Bill – ex the Arms Deal: http://mg.co.za/article/2011-09-09-secrecy-bill-the-stories-that-couldnt-be-told/

As Sir Sydney Kentridge, the speaker at the Biko lecture last night, said : all governments have secrets they would prefer do not come out – but NO wrongdoer should be protected from exposure of the truth.

As the ANC also tries to pass a bill allowing police to be even more trigger happy, we face a scary REVERSE into Apartheid times with a police and government who could get away with murder. It is critical we stand up and do what we can to show public opposition to such a block on critical freedoms that we achieved in 1994. The good news is that the Information Bill has seen some changes in response to all the public outcry, so we can remain hopeful that if enough people speak out loudly enough, we can place pressure on our government to put the PUBLIC interest ahead of the interest of those politicians and those in power who are scared of letting their abuses of that power be known. A protection from the truth will only encourage more wrongdoing in people in power who will operate with fewer whistleblowers around…

Only the most basic definition of classified information should be protected (that specific military information which if known could actually harm South Africa and its people), but all information that relates to abuse of law, abuse of power, or abuse of the public interest should always be open for the telling, without the threat of loss of freedom/imprisonment+fines for those who strive to expose the important truths – the telling of which is critical to us being a nation with more integrity, better service delivery, less corruption and a greater opportunity for democracy and prosperity.

Furthermore, there is a trending by the current leadership to operate this country more like a police state – trying to access private BBMs, and using the high crime statistics to try to garner more power while in reality so much of the legislation is to allow certain criminals (some elected) to get away with crimes! We need a strong response to crime, but we do not need a police state nor an authoritarian government who forget our own Bill of Rights:

14. Privacy

Everyone has the right to privacy, which includes the right not to have ­

a) their person or home searched;

b) their property searched;

c) their possessions seized;

or d)the privacy of their communications infringed.

16. Freedom of expression Everyone has the right to freedom of expression, which includes ­

a) freedom of the press and other media;

b) freedom to receive or impart information or ideas;

c) freedom of artistic creativity;

and d) academic freedom and freedom of scientific research.

2. The right in subsection (1) does not extend to ­

a)propaganda for war;

b) incitement of imminent violence;

or c) advocacy of hatred that is based on race, ethnicity, gender or religion, and that constitutes incitement to cause harm.

 

It only took 15-17 years for us to have to be fighting for our freedom again, but let’s fight now before the battle/stakes becomes as big as battles we saw in recent history…

Please join me and friends and thousands of others this Saturday as we march under the banner of THE RIGHT TO KNOW CAMPAIGN. Hope to see you there!

 

 

 

 

INFORMATION ABOUT THE MARCH:

https://www.facebook.com/?ref=hp#!/event.php?eid=111889785582542

Time Saturday, September 17 · 10:30am – 1:00pm 

Location Starts on cnr of Tennant St and Keizersgracht St (outside CPUT) 

Created By Right 2 Know Campaign 

On Saturday 17 September (10.30am-1pm – right after the rugby), thousands of South Africans will join in a march to Parliament to reject the final draft of the ‘Secrecy Bill’.

For more information, and to organise transport for your community: Nkwame Cedile: nkwame.cedile@gmail.com 021 461 7211 or 078 227 6008 *** Come dressed in red, black and white! ***

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