DA's COMPLAINT ON INFO BILL TV AD

It is absurd and ridiculous of the Democratic Alliance to complain about the Department of State Security's advertisement on the Protection of State Information Bill, which is currently before a committee of the National Council of Provinces.

One of the challenges that have been lamented about from time to time by the majority of stakeholders involved in the Bill's process has been the lack of or limited knowledge pertaining to the objects and intends of this draft legislation amongst the public.

While the ANC Parliamentary Caucus, albeit with limited resources, and the NCOP Committee used their public consultation processes to educate the people on the Bill and get their views - the intervention by the State Security Department in this public educational process should be welcomed. As the sponsor of this Bill, the department has a right to educate the public on its objectives and intentions through a variety of available media platforms.

It is silly for the DA to regard this exercise as a violation of the principle of separation of powers.  The department is merely educating the South Africans on the facts around the Bill, not influencing or meddling in the parliamentary process.

The department's communications initiative is an important intervention, particularly in the light of one-sided reporting by certain sections of the media due to their interest in the Bill, as well as the deliberate misinformation campaign by the likes of the DA, which includes branding the Bill a 'secrecy Bill' or 'media Bill'.

We are confident that the Advertising Standards Authority will see the DA's complaint for what it is, a silly and opportunistic political game, and dismiss it.

Statement issued by Moloto, Mothapo, Office of the ANC Chief Whip, April 4 2012

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