Statement on the Protection of Information Bill

The South African Association of Political Studies (SAAPS) is this country's official body for scholars of Political Science and International Relations. We have noted with concern the introduction in the National Assembly earlier this year of a Protection of Information Bill (POIB). The SAAPS considers that the proposed law will raise serious impediments to the conduct of academic research.

The Bill has no clear public interest override; definitions of ‘national security' and the ‘national interest' are widely drawn; there is little in the Bill to limit needless and wide-ranging classification; and researchers and students might easily access and use classified information unknowingly. Placing the onus on researchers and students to judge the security status of government documents is unreasonable.

Combined with mandatory custodial sentences, the effect will be to render a wide range of legitimate research activity impossible to those not granted state security clearances. The study of important areas of politics and public policy -- including corruption, maladministration, intelligence systems, foreign policy, justice and security, public health, HIV/AIDS policy, gender policy, environmental management, and the management of government information itself -- might become in effect impossible.

Section 32 of the Bill of Rights provides that ‘Everyone has the right of access to any information held by the State', limited only in ways reasonable in an open and democratic society. We strongly urge government to reconsider the proposed legislation, in view of the aforementioned constitutional provisions.

Statement issued by the South African Association of Political Studies (SAAPS), September 13 2010

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