The City of Cape Town and the Western Cape government will resist the Protection of State Information Bill in its current form, even if it is passed, says premier and DA leader Helen Zille.
The bill was pushed through the National Assembly by an ANC majority this week.
The DA has even opened itself to joining forces with trade federation Cosatu in opposing the bill. Cosatu has threatened to go the Constitutional Court to prevent the bill from being passed in its current state.
Zille has already written to President Jacob Zuma to request an “urgent meeting” to discuss the far-reaching implications of the bill.
On Thursday the DA announced planned measures in its fight.
It will launch an “e-mobilisation campaign” involving SMS, e-mail, Twitter, Facebook and MXit, focusing on sharing information on the bill and how it will affect people’s rights.
The campaign was expected to reach about 15 million people.
The DA Youth will lead “flash mob” protests at high-profile public events where protesters, wearing black gags and armed with posters, will show their opposition to the bill.
The DA will also seek legal advice on the bill which it believes was incorrectly tagged and could therefore be invalid.
On Thursday, an order paper of the National Council of Provinces stated that the bill was being referred to an ad hoc committee. Through this committee, the DA will push for amendments to the bill.
The committee must complete a report on its findings by March 8.
Zille said the DA would resist implementation of the bill in the areas it governed.
Lindiwe Mazibuko, the DA’s parliamentary leader, would be lobbying opposition MPs to join the DA’s process to make an application to the Constitutional Court according to Section 80 (1) of the Constitution. They would need 134 signatures.
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