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The DA welcomes the fact that the ANC is finally starting to bow to pressure from the opposition and public on the Protection of State Information Bill.

The Ad Hoc Committee on the Protection of State Information Bill met today to deliberate on amendments to the bill. The DA has been pushing for various amendments to the bill since it first entered the National Council of Provinces.

The ANC today tabled various amendments to the bill, including the intention of amending the clause which would allow the bill to trump the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) as well as the removal of strict penalties for the disclosure of state information.

However, the ANC did not address two issues which had been agreed upon during private discussions on the Bill. This includes the amendment to section 3(2)(b) – otherwise known as the “opt in” clause – to make it obligatory for parliament to have the final say on any such “opt in” determined by the Minister. They also did not adequately deal with the removal of all minimum sentences.

The DA hopes that this was purely a breakdown in communication and that these issues will be addressed.

The Secrecy Bill has been in the pipeline for the last few years and the DA welcomes the fact that the ANC has finally come to its senses in terms of certain important amendments. However, more work still needs to be done in order for the bill to be brought in line with the Constitution and to be in the public interest.

The DA will continue to drive this issue in the NCOP along with other opposition parties until the Protection of State Information Bill is amended to align with our Constitution.