When democracy gets in the way of power

Sunday Times Editorial, 19 February 2012

THE dogs of populism are barking at the doors of freedom. The bark is getting louder and the pack is growing. Parliament is gathering ammunition before it finally hammers the first nail into the coffin of press freedom in the form of the Protection of State Information Bill.

Much has been said about this piece of legislation. Most recently, Planning Minister Trevor Manuel observed that South Africa, like any other country, needed to protect its official secrets and this was what the bill set out to do.

No one disagrees with this objective. What is troubling is the absence of protection for those who reveal such information when it is manifestly in the public interest. Click here to read more.