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With the introduction of the current information bill, I will never be able to vote for you again. And I have voted for you - ever since you were unbanned.
You see, I will never again know how you have performed in government. I will be sure how your members have acted: with integrity? with honesty? with morality? I will therefore have to assume the worst.
With all the calls by the ANC emphasising the need for this bill, I have not seen one example in the press where a journalist has released information that I would deem harmful to security. I have seen many articles that are embarassing for the ANC, the government, even the president, but not harmful.
Even you have stated that service delivery is bad, that Malema needs to control his mouth, that ministers have not performed, crime is serious, corruption is endemic, our philandering president has overstepped the mark.
So is this what 'National Security' becomes? We cannot know about our president's love child because it is demeaning? We cannot know when MPs buy expensive cars with taxpayers money because it may compromise their safety? We cannot know that crime is bad because it may affect investor sentiment? We cannot know about corruption as it sends out a negative image to other countries? Why you dont try and fix the underlying problem instead escapes me:- unless you dont want to?
Because that is what will happen. All it takes is one government official saying security is affected and reporting has to cease.
The argument that MPs and others need 'protection' from the press is a red herring. There are laws of libel, slander, to cover lies. Why aren't they used? Because it may bring up evidence? Easier just to ban the report.
I am only one voter. I am sure there are countless more like me.
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written by barrmar, October 23, 2010
Of course there are security issues that must be kept secret. Other than that, knowledge is in the national interest, never against it.
Unfortunately, corruption has crept into a once great organisation and is causing untold damage. We can only assume that the information act is to protect corrupt officials.
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written by OS GIKEN, November 01, 2010
The thing that baffles me ALWAYS about the decisions the government make are the amount of idiocy involved! Its just like you say - they want to cover their asses, I'm not sure that they realise that we have brains and can see what they trying to do...I won't vote for them, I'm making my FUCK ANC and YOUTH LEAGUE tshirt...I can't wait for the electins so that I can wear it proudly!
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We cannot know, (as the minister for defence has already decreed that she thinks there are security issues), for example the cost of all the presidential flights all over the place, or who is actually using this facility (which is paid for by the tax payers). Now I can understand why they would not want to release the flight plans prior to the event, but surely the people who pay for this extravagance (which very few leaders of much bigger countries have), have a right to know how much it costs, how often it is used, and whether it is being used by extended members of his family & friends as has been suggested.
They do not seem to realise, that in a culture of corruption, and pocket lining that more transparency is needed, not less, if they want to keep voters and taxpayers on their side. Quite apart from that there will be a huge negative reaction from overseas investors, who are already concerned that some of the aid funds that they are making available are not actually going to the people that they are intended for.