The passing of the contentious protection of state information bill or secrecy bill as it has come to be referred to is an act deserving of corruption watchs cw zerooftheweek status. A bill is a draft act of parliament or a proposal for a new law. The national assembly has referred the controversial info bill back to a. It enshrines the rights of all people in our country and affirms the democratic values of. Prescription in civil and criminal matters sexual offences amendment bill b222019. We join other civil society organisations in expressing disappointment at this turn of events in south africas democracy. The secrecy bill will affect your right to information. Black tuesday november 22, despite objections from civil society, the media and foreign investors. Bills are drawn up by government departments under the direction of the relevant minister or deputy.
Adequate protections for records containing issues of national security, defence and international relations are already provided under paia. The bill is said to signal a dark day for democracy and a return to apartheidstyle secrecy. Most bills are drawn up by a government department under direction of the relevant minister or deputy minister. A bill must be approved by cabinet before being submitted to parliament. Accordingly, if the secrecy bill is passed in its current form it will represent an erosion of the right to information in south africa without justification. Amendment of section 1 of act 114 of 1998, as amended by section 10 of act 22 of 2005 1. South africa has moved a step closer to passing the protection of state information bill secrecy bill into law when 229 african national congress anc members of parliament voted in favour of the bill on 22 november 2011. Last year however, the national assembly decided to pass a condemned secrecy bill, two days prior to freedom day, despite citizens disapprovals. The south african democracy is founded, inter alia, on the values of universal adult suffrage, a national common voters roll, regular elections and a multiparty system of democratic government, to.
All constitutional amendments must be published in the government gazette with a call for public comment at least 30 days before being introduced in parliament. South african public library and information services bill. South africa passes secrecy bill south africas ancdominated parliament has passed a protection of information bill which could see whistle blowers and journalists who publish classified. A treasury bill is a security of great simplicity resembling a bank note. We join other civil society organisations in expressing disappointment at this turn of events in south africa s democracy. Protection of state information bill and sent it to president jacob zuma for conversion, by sweet executive alchemy, into law, south africas civil society is fighting back the charge being led, appropriately, by the right2know campaign. The proceeding on bills indicates at what stage the bill is at. South african mps approve a controversial media bill, dubbed the secrecy bill after a threeyear battle over the legislation.
National public health institute of south africa bill bill b162017 24 may 2017. As such, one of its major functions is to pass new laws, to amend existing laws, and. In november 1995 a comprehensive new national payment system nps strategy, which was a collaborative effort between the south african reserve bank and the banking industry, was. The signing of the infrastructure development bill into law on 02 june 2014. Republic of south africa south african public library and information services bill as introduced in the national assembly proposed section 76. Secrecy bill passed by parliament corruption watch. Republic of south africa protection of information bill as introduced in the national assembly proposed section 75.
How to fix the secrecy bill and make it constitutionally compliant. The south african constitution protects the right to academic freedom as part of freedom of expression. South africa secrecy bill approved by parliament bbc news. Republic of south africa protection of state information bill as presented by ad hoc committee on protection of information bill national assembly introduced as protection of information bill b 62010 the english text is the off. Republic of south africa liquor products amendment bill as amended by the portfolio committee on agriculture, forestry and fisheries national assembly the english text is the off. As such, one of its major functions is to pass new laws, to amend existing laws, and to repeal or abolish cancel old laws. This bill of rights is a cornerstone of democracy in south africa. Parliament has passed the secrecy bill the protection of state information bill and now president zuma must apply his mind in considering signing it into law.
Congress related to the subject south africa, as determined by the library of congress. Johannesburg south africa s secrecy bill, adopted by the national assembly on april 25, 20, lacks essential protections for whistleblowers, human rights watch said today. As introduced in the national assembly proposed section 76. Secrecy bill less about media freedom, more about national security state. The ongoing debate and consideration of the protection of state information bill often termed the secrecy bill or act has provided a true test for the postapartheid south african democracy. Municipal fiscal powers and functions amendment bill. Civil society activists continue to argue that if passed, the secrecy bill will criminalise some of the freedoms that south africans have been enjoying since 1994. Marine pollution prevention of pollution from ships amendment bill. Johannesburg south africas secrecy bill, adopted by the national assembly on april 25, 20, lacks essential protections for whistleblowers, human rights watch said today. Parliament is the national legislature lawmaking body of south africa. Following the format of our monitoring post on the secrecy. Payment systems in south africa bank for international. Parliament of the republic of south africa therefore enacts as follows. To enjoy this freedom, there is a need for free access to and dissemination of information.
Launched in 2004, govtrack helps everyone learn about and track the activities of the united states congress. Mac maharaj, points out that, the legislature, the judiciary and the executive are the three arms of governance of south africa and, when the president formally receives the bill. The original numbering, as it appears in the south african constitution, has been retained here, hence it begins at article 7. National health insurance bill b 112019 south african government. Was the event a mere coincidence or is our countrys.
It enshrines the rights of all people in our country and affirms the democratic values of human. The socalled secrecy bill is expected to come before the national assembly after changers were made. Treasury bills the south african financial markets journal. Promotion of access to information amendment bill b202019. Not enough south africans understand that the protection of state information bill also popularly known as the secrecy bill now being considered by the national council of provinces ncop is. How to fix the secrecy bill and make it constitutionally. Secrecy bill less about media freedom, more about national. Now that parliament has passed the secrecy bill official name.
There is a major concern the bill might be abused by politicians wishing to hide their corruption. Content available under a creative commons attribution 3. In addition, minimum times are laid down for different stages of the legislative process. The secrecy bill has been and continues to be seen as an obvious means of concealing the corruption within the security establishment and has become a way of south african life for many, from highplaced members of the government down to menial officials. Accordingly, if the secrecy bill is passed in its current form, it will represent an erosion of the right to information in south africa without justification. The south african protection of state information bill, formerly named the protection of information bill and commonly referred to as the secrecy bill, is a highly controversial piece of proposed legislation which aims to regulate the classification, protection and dissemination of state information, weighing state interests up against transparency and freedom of expression. The main difference is that it is a note payable not at sight, but on a certain date in the future. South africa is recognised internationally as a country passionate about upholding its democracy. The fresh start scheme by croatia for low income customers with no property and no savings. David goldblatt has left south african documentary photography incalculably richer, writes niren tolsi. National environmental management laws amendment bill b14d2017. Municipalities, utility and telecoms providers, tax authorities and.
Republic of south africa 6 extend only so far as may be necessary for purposes of such performance. Secrecy bill views from south african civil society. No alcohol, but youll be allowed to exercise and get food delivered at home here are south africas level 4 lockdown details. This week president jacob zuma referred the protection of state information bill the socalled secrecy bill back to parliament. The study highlighted international debt forgiveness case studies including amongst others. South african campaigners unite against secrecy bill. A political fight where terms such as truth and democracy can seem more of a suggestion as opposed. In spite of the fact that the protection of state information bill has undergone many.
Be it enacted by the parliament of the republic of south africa, as follows. The day after the bill was passed by parliament, the senate of the university of the witwatersrand wits issued a statement saying that the secrecy bill was a deep threat to the fundamental principles enshrined in south africas constitution and would obstruct the access to information needed to ensure transparent and accountable governance. Republic of south africa protection of state information bill as presented by the ad hoc committee on protection of information bill national assembly introduced as protection of information bill b62010 the english text is the off. Bill of sale south africa legal templates agreements. Members of south africas parliament on tuesday passed a controversial secrecy bill whose critics fear it will be used as an excuse to muzzle the media and inhibit investigative journalism. It said the changes to the bill made by the upper house of parliament late last year had improved the.