South Africa: Vavi says media bill ‘will not pass’

THE proposed Protection of Information Bill was a “mockery”, Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said yesterday, and assured journalists the bill would not be passed as it is. This is the first criticism of the bill by a leader of the African National Congress-led (ANC) tripartite alliance and it strengthens the media industry’s case in its attempt to oppose the bill.

It has caused an outcry as it is widely perceived as an attempt by the ANC government to prevent the media from exposing corruption within the state . If passed as it is, the bill would centralise strong powers of censorship with the i ntelligence m inister and the National Intelligence Agency.

Delivering the Ruth First memorial lecture last night, Mr Vavi said should the bill be passed as it is, it would be a “mockery to her (Ruth First) journalistic work”.

“We want the bill to talk about state security and the logistics about the defence of the country, the intelligence of the country only. All the other things should not be in that bill,” he said.

Mr Vavi said Cosatu was confident that Parliament would not pass the bill as it is.

“We are lobbying. We are talking to the ANC. Our impression is that MPs will not approve the current bill as it is.”

Mr Vavi refused to comment about the proposed media tribunal which will be discussed at the ANC’s national general council next month. He said Cosatu would only discuss the matter on Monday.

The ANC says the tribunal will assist ordinary citizens who it claims become victims of unfair, inaccurate and defamatory reporting by the media, claiming the existing regulatory bodies such as the Press Ombudsman and the Press Council are ineffective.

- August 18, 2010 by Sibongakonke Shoba

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Source: www.businessday.co.za/articles/Content.aspx  (accessed on 18.08.10)