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The IFP has called for the urgent and immediate suspension of the National
Council of Provinces' public hearings on the State Information Bill after it
has become apparent that the public hearings are being used to mobilize ANC
supporters and silence the opposition.

In Sharpeville, the ANC whip in the NCOP Ms Nosipho Ntwanambi used her
chairmanship to silence, ridicule and insult opposing voices, while in
Vryheid yesterday the event was turned into an ANC rally where the ANC
mayor, Mrs P N Khaba was able to address her supporters.

"In KwaZulu yesterday, these hearings were turned into nothing but a farce
and they must therefore be suspended immediately," said Prince MMM Zulu MP,
the IFP's representative in the NCOP.

He added, "We cannot sit back and allow this constitutionally mandated
process to be abused by the ANC especially in KwaZulu Natal, who are bussing
in their own supporters to various venues to silence critics of this Bill.
The ANC is abusing their power to make a mockery of the process."

Zulu said that yesterday's hearings, which were supposed to have been
attended by the community of the entire Zululand area, were only accessible
to people of Vryheid.

"Transport was only made available to ANC supporters from Vryheid. The rest
of the Zululand District was excluded from the process. The Secrecy Bill is
already an assault on our democracy. But these farcical hearings, funded by
the taxpayer, are also and assault on our democracy."