Following the National Assembly's decision to approve the Protection of State information Bill in November the National Council of Provinces have decided to have hearings starting on Tuesday the 31st January 2012.
These consultations serve as platform for the NCOP to listen to what South Africans have to say with regard to the proposed bill, and take that into consideration when deciding whether to pass the bill or not. The public also have an opportunity to offer amendments to the bill.
This platform will afford the South African citizen an opportunity to air their views on the controversial bill and in particular the non-inclusion of the public interest defence clause, which the absence of has caused uproar from civil society organisations, the SA public and opposition parties alike.
The Public hearings will be held throughout all nine provinces, as follows;
Tuesday 31/01/2012
Western Cape
Group 1: 9am - 4pm: West Coast District Municipality
Group 2: 9am - 4pm: Southern Cape District Municipality
Thursday 02/02/2012
Eastern Cape
Group 1: 9am - 4pm: Nelson Mandela Bay
Group 2: 9am - 4pm: OR Tambo District Municipality
Tuesday 07/02/2012
Free State
Group 1: 9am - 4pm: Lejweleputswa District
Group 2: 9am - 4pm: Mangaung Metropolitan
Tuesday 14/02/2012
Gauteng
Group 1: 9am - 4pm: Mamelodi
Group 2: 9am - 4pm: Sharpeville
Thursday 16/02/2012
Limpopo
Group 1: 9am - 4pm: Mopane District
Group 2: 9am - 4pm: Waterburg Municipality
Tuesday 18/02/2012
North West
Group 1: 9am - 4pm: Bojanala District
Group 2: 9am - 4pm: Dr Kenneth Kaunda District
Thursday 23/02/2012
Mpumalanga
Group 1: 9am - 4pm: Nkangala District
Group 2:9am - 4pm: Gert Sibanda District
Tuesday 28/02/2012
Kwa-Zulu Natal
Group 1: 9am - 4pm: Zululand District Municipality
Group 2: 9am - 4pm: Ugu District Municipality
Thursday 01/03/2012
Northern Cape
Group 1: 9am - 4pm: Francis Baard District
Group 2:9am - 4pm: John Taolo Gaetsewei District
Tuesday 13/03/2012 and Wednesday 14/03/2012
Public hearing in parliament
For changes and amendments to the schedule click here.
For any quesries please contact:
Gurshwyn Dixon
Ad Hoc committee on Protection of State information Bill
Landline: 021 403 3771
Mobile: 083 709 8513
Fax: 086 658 9371
Email: gdixon@parliament.gov.za
