President Jacob Zuma has referred the Protection of State Information Bill which was passed by Parliament and referred to him for his consent and signing into law, back to the National Assembly.
The Bill was regarded as
unconstitutional by many civil society groups.
Presidency Spokesperson Mac Maharaj
emphasized that the President has asked Parliament to look at certain clauses,
namely section 42 and 45, which in his opinion lack meaning, coherence,
consequence and are unconstitutional.
Meanwhile the Right 2 Know Campaign National Coordinator Murray Hunter has welcomed the decision by President Zuma to refer the bill back to Parliament.
Critics of the bill believe it would
allow corruption to flourish as whistle-blowers could face imprisonment.
Hunter said it is a very important
victory for access to information and mobilized citizenry and that shows that
people power is working.
He added that now the real job must
begin, Parliament must start to seek the concerns raised around this bill.
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