Secrecy bill deadline extended

The National Council of Provinces has approved an extension to the deadline by which the Ad Hoc Committee on the Protection of State Information Bill (commonly known as the secrecy bill) must report to the house on the bill.

The committee will now have until 30 September 2012 to consider amendments proposed to the bill by the various parties in the committee and the response to those amendments provided by the Department of State Security.

The extension reflects the ongoing controversy surrounding the bill, including within the ANC, evidenced most recently by the Department of State Security's rejection of proposals to amend the bill suggested by ANC members of the committee.