Johannesburg - The African National Congress’s proposed amendments to the Protection of Information Bill relieves concerns about its negative effects on democracy, the Johannesburg Press Club said on Sunday.
“We welcome the ANC's decision to extend the deadline for the Protection of Information Bill from June 24 2011 to September 23 2011 as well as the proposed amendments to the bill,” said Clare van Zwieten.
“The committee's intention to spend more time considering the bill and the proposed amendments go some way towards relieving concerns about the negative implications this bill will have on our democracy.”
On Friday, the ANC bowed to pressure by activists, academics, journalists and former ministers by scrapping three clauses in the bill to bring the legislation in line with the Constitution. It agreed to scrap mandatory prison sentences for possessing and publishing secret information and to limit the power to classify to state security bodies. It had previously sought to extend this power to all 1 001 existing organs of state, prompting fears of a return to apartheid-era state secrecy and an onslaught on media freedom.
The ANC also agreed to appoint a retired judge to hear any appeal to a refusal for access to classified information. Previously it placed this power with the state security minister.
The club, however, maintained its opinion that the proposed amendments do not deal with the issue of exempting whistleblowers and journalists who release classified information deemed to be in the public interest from prosecution.
“It is essential that provision be made in the legislation for the disclosure of classified information which is in the public interest.
“Determination of whether the public interest justifies the disclosure of the classified information should be left to the justice system which should also be responsible for deciding on the penalties”. - Sapa