PRISA disapproves passing of Secrecy Bill

"Our institute has always represented and defended reporting the truth," says Ronel Rensburg, current president of PRISA. "Our code of ethics for practitioners and consultants expressly requires them to at all times establish and report the facts of any given situation and never to knowingly conceal anything that is in the public interest to disclose.

"Our profession and the health of any democracy are dependent on the role of the media. The media should function as an independent institution to ensure that the public and civil society in general will not be exploited by 'spin' and censorship. No governmental entity has the right to treat its citizens as juveniles that have no minds of their own.

"This Bill as it stands, which does not allow for disclosure of government information on the grounds of public interest, would leave all professionals in an unbearable situation, should they uncover such information. Furthermore, this will place them squarely in breach of the institute's code of ethics, which is amongst the most stringent and foremost in the world. It would begin to unravel every freedom the citizens of South Africa have fought to acquire.

"Media, tip of the iceberg"

Continues the statement, "The media, communication and information professionals though, are only the tip of the iceberg when the implications of this Bill are considered. Every individual academic, lawyer, accountant, auditor, etc will experience difficulty in completing and publishing research; doing auditing and integrated reporting in the course of corporate governance and so the examples continue of how the logos and ethos of the world of our work and communication will be influenced.

"Quite clearly PRISA stands shoulder-to-shoulder with our colleagues in the media and business on this issue. We call for the National Council of Provinces to take very seriously the objections of South Africa's citizens of all race groups, who have demonstrated unity regarding the need to know about certain activities of government departments, particularly when it comes to the way in which our taxes are spent. In our opinion, uncovering bribery and corruption cannot ever be seen to be a risk to national security, safety or South Africa's diplomatic relations and our crossing of global borders.

"We are well aware that there always will be information, which may need to be classified, regarding borders, national defence strategies and so forth, but our politicians and government departments must be held accountable to the people who voted them to power. This power must never become arrogant, as there is a very slight difference between arrogance and ignorance. To proceed with this Bill, without amendments, is Orwellian (and Machiavellian) at best."