CAPE TOWN residents have called on the government to refrain from passing the Protection of State Information Bill in its current form.
They have also lashed out at the government for proposing the bill, saying the country is going back to the "dark days of apartheid".
Residents were speaking at a public hearing in Gugulethu yesterday on the Secrecy Bill.
About 500 people attended, including ad hoc committee members from Parliament, Cosatu provincial secretary Tony Ehrenreich and representatives of NGOs.
Resident Mlungisi Bleki said: "Why is the government bringing this bill to the people now, when some government officials are involved in corruption?
"We are depending on the media for news and other information. This bill will have a negative impact on press freedom. It will also curtail the work ofjournalists."
Bleki said the media had the responsibility to inform the public without fear or favour.
"I see these public hearings as a waste of time and resources. I don't support the bill because it will also affect us. We are going back to the dark days of apartheid," he added.
Nokubonga Yawa, a member of Equal Education, a non-governmental organisation that strives for equal education in Cape Town, said: "We have struggled for several years to get information about schools from the government.
"There is no equal education and resources in township schools, while more affluent areas are well resourced."
If the bill were to be passed, it would be difficult to get access to state information.
"We have the right to information. Don't you think that this bill will disallow us to get information?"
Gugulethu resident Senatla Lefuna lashed out at the government for proposing the bill.
"The government speaks about democracy while it also brings this bill. What issues will be protected and which ones will not be?"
Lefuna also added: "Is it wise for the government to protect state information while it fails to protest its citizens."
He said many South Africans were involved in drugs because of "foreigners who have flocked into the country".
Langa resident Mangwanya Mgani said: "We have a problem about this bill.
"It seems that we are going to back to the days of apartheid."
Mgani also said elderly people were the ones who had been oppressed most compared to young people.
"In 1994 the government told us that it will look after the needs of elderly people.
"But (they) are now paying for water, sanitation and other services.
Mgani said she did not know whether the bill would defend the rights of elderly people.
"We get pensions but it returns to government when we pay for these services."
Bill evokes 'dark days'
CAPE TOWN residents have called on the government to refrain from passing the Protection of State Information Bill in its current form.
They have also lashed out at the government for proposing the bill, saying the country is going back to the "dark days of apartheid".
Residents were speaking at a public hearing in Gugulethu yesterday on the Secrecy Bill.
About 500 people attended, including ad hoc committee members from Parliament, Cosatu provincial secretary Tony Ehrenreich and representatives of NGOs.
Resident Mlungisi Bleki said: "Why is the government bringing this bill to the people now, when some government officials are involved in corruption?
"We are depending on the media for news and other information. This bill will have a negative impact on press freedom. It will also curtail the work ofjournalists."
Bleki said the media had the responsibility to inform the public without fear or favour.
"I see these public hearings as a waste of time and resources. I don't support the bill because it will also affect us. We are going back to the dark days of apartheid," he added.
Nokubonga Yawa, a member of Equal Education, a non-governmental organisation that strives for equal education in Cape Town, said: "We have struggled for several years to get information about schools from the government.
"There is no equal education and resources in township schools, while more affluent areas are well resourced."
If the bill were to be passed, it would be difficult to get access to state information.
"We have the right to information. Don't you think that this bill will disallow us to get information?"
Gugulethu resident Senatla Lefuna lashed out at the government for proposing the bill.
"The government speaks about democracy while it also brings this bill. What issues will be protected and which ones will not be?"
Lefuna also added: "Is it wise for the government to protect state information while it fails to protest its citizens."
He said many South Africans were involved in drugs because of "foreigners who have flocked into the country".
Langa resident Mangwanya Mgani said: "We have a problem about this bill.
"It seems that we are going to back to the days of apartheid."
Mgani also said elderly people were the ones who had been oppressed most compared to young people.
"In 1994 the government told us that it will look after the needs of elderly people.
"But (they) are now paying for water, sanitation and other services.
Mgani said she did not know whether the bill would defend the rights of elderly people.
"We get pensions but it returns to government when we pay for these services."
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