The South African National Editors' Forum (SANEF) welcomed the president's decision to review the controversial Protection of State Information Bill, also known as the "Secrecy Bill". SANEF has long opposed the bill due to the lack of a public interest defence. The bill has remained unsigned for seven years after being passed by parliament amid heated debate. SANEF joins other media freedom groups in arguing that many parts of the bill are unconstitutional and welcomes the opportunity to ensure any unconstitutional or overly broad aspects are redrafted in line with the constitution.

1.  Dispatch Building, Media Mill, 7 Quince Street, Braamfontein Werf, 2001 
 Tel 011 482 5771 / 6775  Fax 011 482 9132  046 338 NPO  www.sanef.org.za  director@sanef.org.za
SANEF WELCOMES THE PRESIDENT’S DECISION TO REVIEW THE “SECRECY BILL”
11 JUNE 2020
The South AfricanNational Editors’Forum(SANEF) welcomes the newsthatPresidentCyril
Ramaphosahas takenstepstohave the controversial anddraconian'’Secrecy'Bill”reviewedand
alignedwiththe Constitution.
SANEF's keyconcernthroughouthas beenthe lackof a publicinterestdefence - andthisreview will
now allowforthisprovisiontobe introduced.
The Protectionof State InformationBill hasremainedunsignedforsevenyearsafteritwaspassedby
Parliamentfollowingnumeroussubmissionsandacrimoniousdebate.The Bill soughttoreplace the
notorious,PublicInformationActof 1982.
Throughoutthe yearsSANEFhas joinedforceswithanumberof mediafreedomgroups andactivists
to raise awarenessaboutthe unconstitutionalnature of manypartsof the Bill.Further, we have
made a numberof submissionstoParliament.One of the mostdraconianaspects of the presentBill,
for instance,includesa15 to 25-yearjail termfor any journalistfoundtohave '’classified”
documentsintheirpossession.
SANEFwelcomesthisopportunitytoensure thatall aspectsof the Bill thatare unconstitutional,or
too broadlydefined, are redrafted–andwe wouldbe happyto give furtherinputtofinaliseit.
Note to Editors: The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) is a non-profitorganisation
whose members are editors, senior journalists and journalism trainers from all areas of the South
African media. We are committed to championing South Africa’s hard-won freedom of expression
and promoting quality, ethics and diversity in the South African media. We promote excellence in
journalism through fighting for media freedom, writing policy submissions, research and
education and training programmes. SANEFis not a union.
For more informationplease contact:
Mahlatse Mahlase – SANEFChairperson,(083) 399-2852
Katy Katopodis –SANEFDeputy Chairperson,(082) 805-7022

2. Moipone Malefane –SANEFSecretary-General (082) 772-5861
Mary Papayya– SANEFMediaFreedomChair(082) 379-4957
SbuNgalwa– SANEFEasternCape Convenor(073) 404-1415
JanetHeard – SANEFWesternCape Convenor(078) 041-9528
Hopewell Radebe –SANEFGautengRegional Convenor (083) 582-1734
JudySandison – SANEFKZN Convenor(082) 571-3334
Kate Skinner– SANEFExecutive Director–(082) 926-6404
Twitter: @SAEditorsForum
Email: admin@sanef.org.za Website: www.sanef.org.za