The National Assembly's approval of the Protection of State Information Bill on Tuesday has drawn widespread condemnation.

The House approved the bill by 229 votes to 107 with two abstentions after a division called by the opposition and a Democratic Alliance motion to delay the vote failed.

The SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) said the bill could impact negatively on basic human rights.

The commission had a constitutional and legislative responsibility for the right to access to information.

The bill had to be aligned with the Promotion of Access to Information Act, to avoid moving back towards a culture of secrecy which had the potential to undermine democracy, it said.

The commission also expressed its concern about the impact of the bill on the rights of journalists and whistleblowers who released information in the public interest and faced the prospect of lengthy imprisonment sentences in the absence of a public interest defence in the bill.

Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) noted with "deep regret" the Assembly's decision.

"We call on President [Jacob] Zuma and the African National Congress to follow through on their pledge of a fully public and consultative process on this bill."

A side effect of the bill was that it had seen a trend of national, provincial and local institutions tending towards a culture of secrecy, it said.

The Right2Know Campaign said it was disappointed that ANC MPs had accepted the bill.

"In doing so they have betrayed the principles of open government and transparency that the ANC once stood for.

"We have won the argument, if not this battle. The Right2Know Campaign will continue to challenge the secrecy bill up to the Constitutional Court," it said.