While academics and theorists debate potential scenarios which may arise out of the Protection of Information Bill let’s take a trip in a time machine to a bail application that we can look forward to at the end of next year. Hopefully this will finally bring home the reality as opposed to the theory. BAIL […]
Protection of Information Bill
Posted inNews/Politics
The utter stupidity of ANC lawmakers
It is almost unbelievable that the political party which, 20 years ago, was still an organisation engaged in a “liberation struggle”, could suffer from amnesia to the extent that it has voted for the passing of the Protection of Information BIll (better known as the “secrecy bill”) in Parliament. Unbelievable, because during the struggle against […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Waiting for 2pm on Gothic Tuesday
By Suntosh Pillay My one concern about Black Tuesday was that if the 400 MPs deciding our future decided not to pass the secrecy bill, then a celebratory White Wednesday might follow and, quite frankly, dressing up in white is never as flattering as black. In faded black jeans, looking like a trainee Gothic, I […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Blue Tuesday
By Zuki Mqolomba I woke up to a wardrobe dilemma this morning. Given the choice of a litany of unattractive black attire I’d long abandoned given the season, I was rattled by the political choice imposed on me on this ordinary Tuesday-turned-extraordinary. By accident, omission or actual deliberation, my choice of “shirt, skirt, shoes and […]
Posted inNews/Politics
‘Black Tuesday’ protest the least we can do
In light of the current legal action being taken by presidential spokesperson Mac Maharaj against the Mail & Guardian for what he claims are breaches of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Act, coupled to the decision to proceed with all haste, and very little consultation, on the Protection of Information Bill, the very least South […]
Posted inGeneral
Secrecy Bill good in theory, police state in practice
The Protection of State Information Bill will be tabled in the National Assembly on Wednesday where it may be referred to a parliamentary ad hoc committee or passed and sent to the National Council of Provinces for deliberations. This does not mean that it cannot be amended or modified before being sent to President Jacob […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Arms deal inquiry could be the shortest in history
President Jacob Zuma on Thursday confirmed that a judicial commission of inquiry into South Africa’s arms deal will be appointed. According to reports the president agreed to appoint a commission of inquiry into allegations of corruption in the 1999 contract for ships, aircraft and submarines with the Dispatch Online confirming that an affidavit was sent […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Do you trust the media?
By Sipho McDermott It’s a scary moment when you cross the barbed wire. You leave the relative safety of armoured vehicles and police protection for an angry, swirling crowd. Anyone in their right mind wouldn’t do it. But you are a journalist, and this kind of situation comes with the territory. You have to report […]
Posted inNews/Politics
What the secrecy Bill should look like
The Protection of Information Bill is an aberration that threatens to eliminate government transparency, cut off the free flow of information and cripple the media’s effectiveness in exposing corruption at the highest levels. Accordingly we need to ask ourselves what can be done to achieve the goals that the legislators purportedly had in proposing the […]