South Africa's State Security Agency has launched a propaganda campaign to sway public hearts and minds about the Protection of State Information Bill. The bill is currently under the jurisdiction of parliament and, as such, Government appears to be flouting how the state is constituted and run by advertising the bill, an entity over which it has no dominion. The advert was created by the agency, and the media placement for the campaign was done by the Government Communication and Information System, which falls under The Presidency.
"The overriding problem with these adverts is that they comment on a piece of legislation that doesn't yet belong to the government," said Lindiwe Mazibuko, leader of the DA in Parliament. "For state security and GCIS to comment on something that does not belong to them and has not yet been completed by parliament is madness."
Mazibuko said she'll be taking the matter up "first thing". "For the state security department to engage in this propaganda campaign on behalf of a piece of legislation that is not theirs and doesn't exist yet is a flagrant disregard of the separation of powers," Mazibuko said.
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For More list updated at 5.16pm on 2 April 2012.
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