This article was last updated on April 16, 2022
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A large number of people are expected to take part in the protest against the protection of State Information Bill by marching through the streets of Cape Town tomorrow.
The South African ANC led government has proposed to introduce a Protection of Information Bill which aims to regulate the classification, protection and dissemination of state information, considering state interests up against transparency and freedom of expression. The penalties against the disclosure of any protected information are harsh. And anyone found guilty for this would be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a maximum of five years. There is limited protection under the Protected Disclosures Act 2000, but this act only protects employees from being subjected to occupational censure for having made a protected disclosure. Journalists and rest of the public are not covered by this Act and therefore cannot claim its protection.
The Right2Know (R2K) Campaign has set forth the protest against the secrecy bill which is set to go before the National Assembly in the coming week. It will then go before the National Council of Provinces before it is sent to President Jacob Zuma to get signed into law. The R2K campaign comprises of 400 civil society organizations that began fighting the bill a year ago. The campaign’s national administrator, Tinashe Njanji has told that representatives from most of the organizations have confirmed their participation in protest. Everyone including a large number of students from UCT’s students against secrecy is expected to come out on the streets.
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