Info bill: Govt willing to listen

2010-09-02 12:20

Cape Town - The government is committed to accommodating the views expressed during public hearings on the protection of information bill "as far as practicable and reasonable", spokesperson Themba Maseko said on Thursday.

Briefing the media following Cabinet's regular Wednesday meeting, he said the government welcomed the representations received from interested parties and appreciated the public's dedication and participation in the consultative processes enshrined in the Constitution.

"We reiterate that this process has not been completed and the bill is yet to be finalised.

"Government, through the minister of state security (Siyabonga Cwele), is considering the valuable submissions and representations made during the public hearings and are committed to accommodate the views expressed as far as practicable and reasonable," he said.

Cwele had been focusing on areas which might be broad and/or vague, and which had the potential to infringe on other rights enshrined in the Constitution.

Following this involved and detailed process, the minister would table a comprehensive response to Parliament, when the ad hoc committee working on the bill next met.

"Government hopes that its scrutiny of the representations and its response will go a long way towards meeting the recommendations made in the submissions and representations during the consultative process," Maseko said.
 

- SAPA