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Joburg resident Roy Blumenthal gagged himself with part of a black plastic refuse bag in protest against the Protection of State Information Bill. Photo: Werner Beukes/SAPA
Joburg resident Roy Blumenthal gagged himself with part of a black plastic refuse bag on Tuesday in protest against the Protection of State Information Bill.
This was symbolic of what the government intended to do, he said at a picket outside the ANC's headquarters at Luthuli House, in Joburg.
“This country is screwed up completely and it will take a lot to fix it. The bill will just benefit corrupt politicians,” he said.
Glenda Daniels, a member of the Right2Know Campaign which organised the protest, said the bill had huge constitutional implications and should not be passed in its current form.
The media had already had a taste of what was to come should the bill be passed, she said.
She was referring to the recent charges brought against the Mail&Guardian and two journalists by presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj over a story.
“We will not stop fighting and no, we haven't lost hope.”
The National Assembly is schedule to vote on the bill on Tuesday afternoon.
Daniels said the next option would be to bring the matter to the Constitutional Court.
“It is totally anti-constitutional.... There are those within the ANC that were against. They share the same view with us that the exclusion on public interest defence stops the free flow of information and will hinder democracy.”
Her colleague Jayshree Pather criticised the ANC for taking chances with people's rights and said the bill affected ordinary people and not just the media .
“Citizens need information to access other basic rights like housing,” she said
If the National Assembly votes in favour of the bill, it will go to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) where opposition MPs hope they can convince the ANC to narrow down clauses criminalising possession and disclosure of classified information.
All opposition parties have made it clear that they will not support the draft law on the basis that it threatens media freedom and gives the state excessive power to keep information secret.
After the NCOP process, it will be referred back to the National Assembly before President Jacob Zuma is asked to sign it into law.
There were protests against the bill in Joburg, Pretoria, Durban and Cape Town on Tuesday.
Some of the protesters outside Luthuli House stood on opposite sides of the road carrying placards which read: “Sine lungelo lokwazi” which translates as “We have the right to know”.
Other placards read: “We won't be silent”, “Let the truth be told” and “Don't think you are going to conceal fault by concealing evidence”.
Pamphlets were handed to motorists and pedestrians urging them to demand the right to know and force the government to scrap the secrecy bill.
The National Press Club asked people opposed to the bill to wear black clothes, a black ribbon or a black armband.
It named the campaign “Black Tuesday”, based on what became known as “Black Wednesday” – October 19 1977, when the apartheid government banned The World, the Sunday World and a Christian publication Pro Veritas, as well as almost 20 people and organisations associated with the black consciousness movement.
An hour into the protest, Johannesburg metro police began removing people from outside Luthuli House, saying they were not allowed to be there.
Journalists from several media houses including the Mail&Guardian, The Star and the SABC, started dispersing around 9.30am. – Sapa
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windtramp, wrote
@ana at 12:54, wake up and see whats happening here. its NOT a whiteblack thing, its about the future of YOUR country we are fighting for. We are all fighting for a country in which in the not too distant future YOU have the right to read what you want, say what you want and meet with whom you want. A country in which the press are free to tell YOU whats really going on and allow YOU to make an INFORMED decision as to whom to vote for. This is what it is about.If that is NOT what you want, i am sad for you, but the rest of do want that, and that is what the protests are about.
Devon, wrote
What's up with the comments about the media's own complicity in censoring comments and newsworthy articles and only wanting to sell newspapers to maintain profit? Can't you understand that the people on the street campaigning and protesting for YOUR freedom of speech aren't newspapers but PEOPLE. Yes these people are journalists who want to sell their stories, but the work they put in to uncover corruption and mismanagement in the country is so that YOU will know. YOU will know why there's no money to run a effective police force, YOU will know why they've stopped building RDP houses in your area, YOU will know why the government minister who just bought yet another mansion is sitting on easy street while you work your butt off for peanuts. Newspapers are there to make money, yes, but journalists are there to uncover the truth, report accurately, and be YOUR window on our world. Journalists hold up the mirror to this country and ask, "Is this right? Is this fair? Is this the country and countrymenwomen you are proud of? I'm not a journalist, but I respect and honour them, because they fight for the truth and soon will be prosecuted so you can pay R6.80 and have the truth, the freedom, and the leaders that this country deserves.
Anonymous, wrote
I cant believe there are idiots here that want to make this a race thing.Are your arguments so pathetic that you resort to race in order to support this bill.That's weak.This is the government you wanted.Now suffer.Just watch how the rand deteriorates and the rife corruption in the ANC government increases.
drew, wrote
@bugaluv... actually motivated by intelligence. Or do you just prefer your head in the sand. Or possibly you're a government agent hoping to hide your own corruption.
Situation, wrote
what wrong with "black"!!! why is it whenever white people want to drive a point they use "black as colour to pass on the message" Black tuesday, black wednessday, black Mazibuko, etc!!
FabianGoodwin, wrote
Sheep, Black Sheep, it’s bloody ANC sheep… It votes, a lamb to the slaughter, the political wolf gloats, I don’t want to fall asleep, what’s the point of counting sheep… cry ignorance! They are ANC sheep. I cannot stand by and watch my beloved country sink further into a black hole of despair, When will the flock see the truth? This is not life, it’s barely getting by. It seems like a never ending nightmare, I don’t want to fall asleep, what’s the point of counting sheep… cry ignorance! They are ANC sheep. Be quiet! Be obedient! Do what I say! What rights do you have? We will not pay! I am the wolf, and you are my prey. Don’t fall asleep, there is no point to counting sheep… demand Freedom! We are the people of South Africa, we are wearing black. We are not your bloody sheep. It is sadness that overwhelms me, on this dark, dark day. We call it in protest, Black Tuesday.
Gary, wrote
As far back as the 1999 election I warned if the ANC got two thrids majority it would erode our freedoms, butt he same people protesting now didnt want to listen and support ed the ANC getting a two thirds.Without a strong political opposition in parliament we will see more of this!
Anonymous, wrote
It starts with ████████████████████████████████████ ████████████████████████ hands of the ██ government
Gary, wrote
As far back as the 1999 election I warned if the ANC got two thrids majority it would erode our freedoms, butt he same people protesting now didnt want to listen and support ed the ANC getting a two thirds.Without a strong political opposition in parliament we will see more of this!
Anonymous, wrote
With all the s*** going on in this country , smells like a war coming .
Rachmac, wrote
Its a disgrace, our fight for democracy was fought in vain now, how can the people that we voted for, to govern us, do this? This bill will only condone corrupt officials, I am yet to see a plus side to this bill. We are moving backwards, we are now another Zimbabwe, Egypt, Libya and Uganda.
Rachmac, wrote
Its a disgrace, our fight for democracy was fought in vain now, how can the people that we voted for, to govern us, do this? This bill will only condone corrupt officials, I am yet to see a plus side to this bill. We are moving backwards, we are now another Zimbabwe, Egypt, Libya and Uganda.
Rachmac, wrote
Its a disgrace, our fight for democracy was fought in vain now, how can the people that we voted for, to govern us, do this? This bill will only condone corrupt officials, I am yet to see a plus side to this bill. We are moving backwards, we are now another Zimbabwe, Egypt, Libya and Uganda.
Juan, wrote
Peaceful protests are futile, and the anc government should learn from what happened to Gadaffi when his people had enough of opression!!
bugaluv, wrote
this is very funny and sososo motivated by white..!!!!
Si████████, wrote
The state is becoming ████████████ how can we ████████████ if were subjected to ████████████
Anonymous, wrote
only one sure way to make this bill ultimately fail: make every Western govt, NGO's, universities and massive news organisations in those countries aware of the fact that the country of the Nelson Mandela miracle is on the slippery slope to dictatorship and tyranny, just like the rest of Africa.
Frazier, wrote
If Maharaj is the presidents' mouth piece we are certainly in for a rough ride. He hates the press. He can also lie with a straight face. He is typical of what the ANC has become. Now with the press about to be muzzled, corruption will thrive. No one will be allowed to divulge it to the public. A Nazi state is what we will become.
Steven, wrote
In effect, with bringing in this bill, the ANC is creating a one-party state. Information which, in other democratised countries, could bring down a government, will no longer be available to the general public and the ANC will no longer have a means for the opposition to create a groundswell...And the public will no longer have a say in the running of the country.
The Goose and Gander, wrote
So. let me understand this. If Julius Malema's supporters (or any other groups) gather outside Luthuli house it's OK. When those not of the ANC gather it is not? I think the right2know guys have just made a VERY strong point. Since when has the party had the right remove citizens (whom it is suposed to serve) from a public space just because they do not like the message the citizens which to convey? Seems very odd...
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