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The University of Cape Town notes with extreme disappointment the fact that Members of the South African parliament voted in favour of the proposed Protection of State Information Bill. This despite the extraordinary strong civic voice that has risen against the proposed Bill.

While we believe the Bill will not ultimately find its way into law, but will be amended or stopped as it goes through the process, it is nevertheless extremely disturbing that the legislation was able to cross the bridge it did today.

UCT’s Council and Senate have expressed their reasons for objecting to the Bill in its current form. We believe that without a “public interest” clause, if the Bill becomes law, it will limit the freedom of every citizen in the country. It will criminalise whistleblowers and journalists who have the intention to do the right thing by revealing criminality.