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The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes COSATU secretary general Zwelinzima Vavi's comments denouncing the Protection of Information Bill and its implications for media freedom and freedom of expression in South Africa. It is encouraging to see that at least one of the leaders of the ANC's major alliance partners recognizes that the measures posed by the bill would, amongst other things, prevent the government from being held to account.

Delivering the Ruth First Memorial Lecture yesterday, Mr. Vavi said of the Bill:

‘She (Ruth First) would ask where all the other democrats have gone after reading about the Protection of Information Bill that, if it goes through in its current form, will make a mockery of her work as a journalist committed to fighting injustice. What type of society are we building?'

This is just so. Members of the government who support the bill need to ask of themselves the vital questions Mr. Vavi has posed and interrogate what the implications of their actions are for the constitutional freedoms we cherish today.

There can be no doubt the Bill and the proposed media tribunal represent apartheid thinking. The media tribunal in particular mirrors almost exactly a number of similar proposals made the National Party, most notably for the establishment of statutory ‘Press Council', which would regulate and punish journalists in the same way a media tribunal would. It is disheartening indeed, to see our current discourse marked by ideas once championed by an oppressive and undemocratic regime.

It is clear that the dissent we have seen from the Cabinet in the form of Minister of Housing Tokyo Sexwale's denunciation of the bill extends far deeper, even to the governing party's very alliance members. We urge Mr. Vavi to present his views to the next meeting of the tripartite alliance leadership and reinforce that this bill, opposed by all true democrats, does not speak for everyone.