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The South African National Editors' Forum (SANEF) at its Council meeting in Durban on September 19 2010, has noted Friday's comments by the Minister of State Security, Siyabonga Cwele, on the Protection of Information Bill presently before Parliament.

The editors' forum welcomes the indications by the minister of a willingness to review the definition of "national interest" under which information may be classified, and notes the other changes mooted. Sanef is however concerned that, based on the limited information so far given by the minister, the proposed changes fall far short of rendering the bill compliant with the constitution.

As a way forward, Sanef suggests that the bill's drafters engage with the forum and other stakeholders to address this and remove the threats it still poses to the free flow of information and citizens' right to be informed.