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''I believe the question has to be asked why do we need the Protection of Information Bill to stifle journalism and hamper media freedom? Where in our short democratic history has that freedom led to any direct harm to the government as a whole or to our country? ''
So asked veteran journalist and anchor Derek Watts of Carte Blanche on M-Net tonight on the highly acclaimed, weekly investigative magazine show. Carte Blanche has come out strongly against the draconian, completely anti-constitutional and entirely anti-democratic Protection of Information Bill.
South Africa's parliament will be voting on Tuesday on the controversial Secrecy Bill to curtail media freedom in South Africa. If passed it will severly hamper the rights of South Africans to information, limit freedom of speech in South Africa and prevent journalists from finding and reporting the news and providing the public with all the facts and information.
Carte Blanche has also just filmed a public service announcement against the incredibly misguided proposed legislation that will be a massive setback for media freedom in South Africa.
Besides the public service announcement of Carte Blanche that's running on M-Net, Derek Watts, with gravitas in tonight's episode and with a straight-to-camera, incredibly clear and strong editorial opinion rarely seen on the show, said:
''The Protection of Information legislation goes to the National Assembly for final debate and voting on Tuesday. This is the first stage of turning South Africa into another state where media freedom is virtually extinguished. Journalists are united not letting the so-called Secrecy Bill slip through quietly.''
ALSO READ: Carte Blanche's public service announcement against South Africa's Secrecy Bill: The Protection of Information Bill is a threat to our country.
