ANC's march for secrecy is a march against the South African people
The ANC, SACP and SANCO's joint march to Parliament today, in support of the Protection of State Informtion Bill, highlights just how disconnected the governing party has become from the overwhelming majority of South Africans. Indeed, the ANC's march today for secrecy is a march against the South African people.
Since the tabling of the ‘Secrecy Bill' in the National Assembly last year, there has been a consistent outcry from South Africans against the bill. In the absence of a public interest defence clause, the bill will undermine our constitutionally enshrined right to freedom of expression, and enable the covering up government corruption. Poorest South Africans, who continue to be the victims of this government's poor record of service delivery, will be the hardest hit.
The South African people have shown that they are overwhelmingly opposed to the bill, in both the public participation phases in the National Assembly and National Council of Provinces. It seems it is only the ANC that is unable to hear this.
The fact that the governing party must now march to make its support for the bill known shows just how little support they have for their position.
The DA will continue to work tirelessly in the NCOP to ensure that the bill includes a public interest defence clause, and that it conforms to the spirit and purport of the Constitution. Anything less will be unacceptable.
Should the bill be passed without these key amendments, the DA will petition President Zuma in terms of Section 79 of the Constitution, to ensure that the bill is referred back to the National Assembly. If this should fail, I will lead a process to refer the Bill to the Constitutional Court through Section 80 of the Constitution.
Parliament is constitutionally mandated to represent the will of the people. While the ANC has chosen to ignore the wishes of millions of South Africans, and march for secrecy, the DA will stand firm in defence of our hard-won freedoms.
Statement issued by Lindiwe Mazibuko MP, DA Parliamentary Leader, March 30 2012
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