‘Zuma, don't sign Bill': President receives 5 000 e-mails in 24 hours
More than 5 000 members of the public have voiced their disapproval of the controversial Protection of State Information Bill directly to President Jacob Zuma by sending him an e-mail from AfriForum's webpage, www.thebillstopshere.co.za.
The first few e-mails came in yesterday at around 15:30, about 90 minutes after the official launch of the webpage. "By close of business yesterday, the public had already sent approximately 1 000 e-mails to the State President, and about 1 000 more e-mails came in during the night. A further 3 000 e-mails flooded in this morning, with nearly one e-mail received every five seconds," said Ernst Roets, Deputy CEO of AfriForum.
According to Roets, the webpage was established to give people a platform for joining in the debate regarding the Bill. The e-mail, in which Zuma is asked to not sign the Bill, that is, to not make it into law, is sent to Zuma's personal e-mail address and the e-mail addresses of his assistants.
The e-mail petition is part of AfriForum's five-point plan against the Info Bill, which is also available on the webpage.
"We didn't market the webpage through advertisements. The campaign is almost entirely marketed by means of the public's participation in it on Facebook and Twitter. Several artists and other prominent individuals have also urged their followers to sign the petition. This campaign is a striking example of the power of social media," said Roets.
"The public's overwhelming response to this campaign is a clear indication that the ruling party is out of touch with the needs of ordinary citizens," he added.
The e-mail to the President reads as follows:
"I, the undersigned South African citizen, would hereby like to state my concern with the so-called Protection of State Information Bill. I am of the opinion that the Bill in its current form will be detrimental to accountability and effective governance in South Africa, that it will have a negative impact on the fight against corruption, and that it will severely curtail the role of the media as a watchdog of society. I hereby request that you prevent this Bill from becoming a law by refraining from signing it."
The webpage also contains more information about AfriForum's campaign against the Info Bill. This information includes letters to Parliament, a legal opinion concerning the constitutionality of the Bill and an explanation of the negative impact the act will have on society. The public can also donate R10 to the legal costs for lodging an application against the Bill with the Constitutional Court by texting the word "Forum" to 38655.
"As it is a legislative process, the fight to stop the Bill has largely been in the hands of opposition parties until now. However, the status quo is starting to change and the big fight is only starting," said Roets. "Even if we have to fight the Bill all the way to the United Nations, we won't stop until we have succeeded in our goal."
Statement issued by Ernst Roets, Deputy CEO, AfriForum, November 30 2011
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