For once, news that seems to be too good to be true, actually is true. The ANC has done a little back-peddle today and called for an extension to the June 24 deadline to complete the drafting of the Protection of Information Bill. Jimmy Manyi must be beside himself at the moment.

ANC MPs announced the new move after the ruling party’s close ally Cosatu voiced strong opposition to the draft law and that it suddenly felt the deadline for submission was too soon.

Having seemed so determined to push the bill through Parliament in the last few weeks, despite widespread and logical calls that the bill was appearing unconstitutional, the move will undoubtedly come as a welcomed one.

ANC lawmaker Luwellyn Landers said after a meeting of the party’s study group on the legislation:

We want to request an extension of the life of this ad hoc committee. The deadline of June 24 is inadequate.

Landers went on to tell SAPA that the deadline should instead be moved to somewhere around the beginning of August, just after the new parliamentary session gets underway.

The trade federation Cosatu called for talks with the ANC on the matter and threatened to launch Constitutional Court proceedings should the bill be passed in its current form.

It cited the fact that the bill may allow for the cover-up of corruption as well as the deterrence of whistle-blowing as its main reasons.

The Treatment Action Campaign claimed it would become impossible for civic organisations to hold government to account and the Right 2 Know Campaign said the legislation would rob poor communities of access to information on service delivery.

The bill has long been seen as a threat to media freedom but rights campaigners say the public as a whole would be affected if all organs of state are allowed to classify information.

[Source: BusinessReport]