outh Africans were deprived of numerous forms of freedom of expression during the
prolonged apartheid era. Very few South Africans were able to participate in
international events and interact with the outside world and institutions that promoted
freedom were banned. Attempts to initiate freedom were suppressed by the ruling
government. Nevertheless, in the era of transformation and democracy, during the
post-apartheid regime, feelings of hope of transparency, especially in the media, were
ushered in. The expectation and hope of a totally free democracy was further
heightened by the implementation of the Bill of Rights.
Freedom of expression in South Africa was soon threatened and came under strain
when the government began making plans to introduce a secrecy bill to contain its
covert operations. Numerous community organisations are desperately lobbying to
suppress government’s initiative to formalise the secrecy bill. Government, on the
other hand, seems to be forging ahead to anoint their Currently, the media goes
through a government censorship where the government is vigorously trying to pass
the Protection of Information Bill in order to guard government information and its
‘corrupt activities’. If passed, incriminating information will be protected under this
Bill. The new and democratically elected South African government which is
characterized by ‘freedom of speech and free access of information’ threatens media
freedom and juxtaposes what the former President Nelson Mandela stood for: “A
critical, independent and investigative press is the lifeblood of any democracy”.
The study discusses the relationship between the use of new technologies and the
State Protection of the Information Bill. It also examines how these new technologies,
through social interaction and citizen journalism, may eradicate ‘corrupt activities’
performed by the government that are camouflaged as ‘classified’ information to
ascertain democracy, freedom of speech and access to information