I find it strange that most South Africans are either taking to the streets today in protest, signing online petitions, inundating government offices
with calls, emails and sms’s, or just protesting in spirit by wearing black. But I have found very little mentioned of this potentially
population-unifying action on any of the international mainstream news media outlets.
The South African government has formulated a so-called “Information Bill”, which has (according to them) been created to keep secret government
information out of the hands of so-called “spies”.
But this Information Bill will make it illegal for any journalist to report or expose corruption or crime within the South African government.
Doing so could land them in jail for 25 years.
After all, reporters have been very busy focusing lots of attention on the antics of Jacob Zuma, Julius Malema and scores of other government
employees – and this attention have been making them very uncomfortable indeed. I mean – how dare the South Africans question the illegal awarding
of tenders, reckless spending of the people’s monies, bad policies and countless acts of fraud and corruption? It is just not done!!! (end
sarcasm)
This “Secrecy Bill” will be brought in front of the National Assembly today for approval. But this is the real kicker:
The ANC has ordered all 264 of its Members of Parliament (MPs) to make sure that they are in the National Assembly at 14:00 on Tuesday to vote in
favour of the protection of state information bill.
This as outrage mounted at government's intention to pass the controversial bill.
Several sources have told Beeld that the ANC MPs will have no choice but to vote in favour of the bill.
The votes will be "checked" afterwards and those who don't vote along party lines will be "in big trouble".
ANC MPs ordered to National Assembly
Truly frightening – is it not! Just another run-of-the-mill intimidation and scare tactic employed by the same institution that has been created to
protect the rights of its citizens. Makes me sick it does!
But the good news is that South Africans are rallying! In a move known as
“Black Tuesday” massive protesting action is taking place across
the country. The people are uniting on one front! Today masses of different cultures, different voices and different skin-colours are standing side by
side protesting against the mother-of-all-government-transgressions. Let change ripple through our country too! Let the winds of change bring some
sense of much-needed solidarity to our little corner of the world.
Some further reading:
What the info bill will mean for
reporting
Protests planned for 'Black Tuesday'
Info bill 'has constitutional implications'
Just asking. I am not sure exactly what the limitations and constraints are now
from SA's freedom of speech perspective.
