Right2Know to launch in Gauteng

Civil society flexes its muscles

Wary of the ANC-led government's 'malicious' move to suppress freedom of expression and compromise the flow of information, the South African civil society is flexing its muscles ahead of the confrontation with the state over the Secrecy Bill.

"We are concerned that the Protection of Information Bill currently before Parliament - the Secrecy Bill - will fundamentally undermine hard-won constitutional rights including access to information and freedom of expression," Ayesha Kajee, of the Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI), said in a statement.

The R2K has adopted 'Let the truth be told - Stop the Secrecy Bill' as a slogan for its struggle against 'neo-apartheid' ideology.

Support from most sectors

R2K is said to be getting massive support from all sectors of SA society, excluding ruling party politicians and their die-hard supporters and business people allies. R2K's loyal supporters include prominent figures such as Nobel laureates Archbishop Desmond Tutu (Peace) and Nadine Gordimer (Literature).

Meanwhile, President Jacob Zuma - already under pressure from critics over his government's attempt to muzzle the media - has welcomed the letters received from various media groupings locally and internationally. The Presidency said on Friday that the letters, emanating from various organisations and individuals, have all raised their concerns about the Protection of Information Bill, as well as the ruling party's Media Appeals Tribunal.

Letters addresses to Zuma acknowledged

Organisations that wrote to the president include Writers against the Protection of Information Bill, Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution, Section 27, the Auckland Park Declaration, the Right to Know Campaign, South African Journalism Schools, World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers, Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance, Agence France Presse, Bloomberg, Associated Press, and Reuters.

"I wish to assure the media groupings that government remains fully committed to media freedom as enshrined in the Constitution," Zuma said.

"I welcome the inputs made to the debate in the public arena and also in Parliament at the public hearings, which indicates the vibrancy of South African society.

"We respect the Constitution of our country and we fought hard for it to be as progressive and as exemplary as it is."

Zuma seeks to re-assure public, media

In a move to dispel the general public's mounting resentment about the government's move to draw the country back to the hellholes of apartheid, the president assured media houses that the Secrecy Bill will not undermine the spirit of the freedoms enshrined in the Constitution.

The organisers also said they are planning a week of action starting with the Black Wednesday commemoration on 19 October.