COSATU general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi yesterday met with editors and the Right2Know group to discuss the way forward to oppose the Protection of State Information Bill.
Vavi said the labour federation remained opposed to the bill in its current form and would pursue a Constitutional Court challenge should the fundamental, substantive problems not be addressed.
But the meeting agreed to work together on a resistance campaign that would tackle the legislation on seven fronts:
l Educating the public about the bill and the problems it posed for democracy;
l Public awareness;
l A march of those opposed to the bill to hand their grievances to President Jacob Zuma;
l A convention;
l Activism;
l A possible petition against the bill, and
l Cooperation and sharing information and resources on legal recourse.
Sanef chairman Mondli Makhanya said the meeting agreed to call on parties that were opposed to the bill to a summit where the seven points would be discussed.
"The significance of the meeting was to demonstrate that the issue was not a media issue but goes to the heart of health and quality of our democracy," he said.
Vavi, in his presentation to the meeting, said Cosatu's decision to oppose the bill was informed by the promotion of openness, transparency and accountability within institutions of governance at all levels and the protection of the complementary objectives of public interest and an appropriately constructed definition of "national security".
He said Cosatu had been working together with other civil society groups, many of whom are part of the Right2Know campaign.
"We agree that all states have secrets but these secrets relate to the protection of the citizens and the state from hostile internal and external activities," Vavi said.
"While the current version of the bill has significantly improved from what was tabled originally in Parliament in 2010, it retains many of the original problems."
He said the scope of the bill remained excessively wide. - Sowetan Reporter
Cosatu, Sanef to fight info bill
COSATU general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi yesterday met with editors and the Right2Know group to discuss the way forward to oppose the Protection of State Information Bill.
Vavi said the labour federation remained opposed to the bill in its current form and would pursue a Constitutional Court challenge should the fundamental, substantive problems not be addressed.
But the meeting agreed to work together on a resistance campaign that would tackle the legislation on seven fronts:
l Educating the public about the bill and the problems it posed for democracy;
l Public awareness;
l A march of those opposed to the bill to hand their grievances to President Jacob Zuma;
l A convention;
l Activism;
l A possible petition against the bill, and
l Cooperation and sharing information and resources on legal recourse.
Sanef chairman Mondli Makhanya said the meeting agreed to call on parties that were opposed to the bill to a summit where the seven points would be discussed.
"The significance of the meeting was to demonstrate that the issue was not a media issue but goes to the heart of health and quality of our democracy," he said.
Vavi, in his presentation to the meeting, said Cosatu's decision to oppose the bill was informed by the promotion of openness, transparency and accountability within institutions of governance at all levels and the protection of the complementary objectives of public interest and an appropriately constructed definition of "national security".
He said Cosatu had been working together with other civil society groups, many of whom are part of the Right2Know campaign.
"We agree that all states have secrets but these secrets relate to the protection of the citizens and the state from hostile internal and external activities," Vavi said.
"While the current version of the bill has significantly improved from what was tabled originally in Parliament in 2010, it retains many of the original problems."
He said the scope of the bill remained excessively wide. - Sowetan Reporter
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos