The SA National Editors’ Forum is deeply concerned and alarmed at the actions of Parliamentary officials in barring members of the Right2Know campaign from Parliament on March 29, thus preventing them from attending a sitting of the Ad hoc Committee on the Protection of Information Bill.
Sanef calls on the National Assembly Speaker, Max Sisulu, to launch a thorough investigation of this incident and to clarify whether or not it was, as claimed, a retaliation for the silent protest mounted by Right2Know activists during deliberations on the Bill in February.
The rights of citizens to attend meetings of Parliament are enshrined in the Constitution and are not the gift of presiding officers to grant or withhold as they deem fit.