The Protection of State Information Bill passed last month
by the National Assembly and now awaiting approval by Parliament would make
possessing or publishing anything the government feels as
"classified" an offense punishable by up to 25 years in prison. Journalists die every day to bring the truth to the world and this is how they are repaid.
African National Congress representative, Jackson Mthembu
told the Committee to Protect Journalists that the bill was needed to replace
apartheid- era law and safeguard state secrets. He is denying that this is a
gag on the media. Mthembu wants the press to strengthen self-regulation to
balance better, an individual’s right to dignity, against the media's right to
publish. However, this tribunal, answering to parliament is two-thirds ANC and
would be tantamount to state control.
