Pretoria - The Ministry of State Security has welcomed the National Assembly’s approval of the revised Protection of State Information Bill.
The bill will now go back to President Jacob Zuma for assent after 225 MPs voted in favour of the proposed law, and 88 voted against it.
In September, Zuma referred the bill back to the assembly, citing constitutional concerns with two sections of the bill.
Zuma had asked the National Assembly to relook at sections 42 and 45, which “did not pass constitutional muster” because they lacked clarity.
The additional strengthening of the whistle-blowers protection and exposing corruption and other illegal activities are some of the important features of the revised bill.
The concerns around the public interest defence have also been considered and accommodated within reason, although some have argued these do not go far enough.
Matters pertaining to the centrality of the Promotion of Access to Information Act were also addressed, while paving the way for a constitutional process of classification, reclassification and declassification of information.
“Our people, as shareholders of the Republic, will henceforth know when matters cease to be sensitive what government has been doing in their name”, said the Minister of State Security, Siyabonga Cwele. - SAnews.gov.za
