Quote of the week
An ‘important purpose of section 34 [of the Constitution] is to guarantee the protection of the judicial process to persons who have disputes that can be resolved by law’ and that the right of access to court is ‘foundational to the stability of an orderly society. It ensures the peaceful, regulated and institutionalised mechanisms to resolve disputes, without resorting to self-help. The right of access to court is a bulwark against vigilantism, and the chaos and anarchy which it causes. Construed in this context of the rule of law and the principle against self-help in particular, access to court is indeed of cardinal importance’.The right guaranteed s34 would be rendered meaningless if court orders could be ignored with impunity:the underlying purposes of the right — and particularly that of avoidance of self-help — would be undermined if litigants could decide which orders they wished to obey and which they wished to ignore.
Victoria Park Ratepayers' Association v Greyvenouw CC and others (511/03) [2003] ZAECHC 19 (11 April 2003)
Right2Know week of action
Week of Action: 19 – 27 October 2010
A responsive and accountable democracy that can meet the basic needs of our people is built upon transparency and the free flow of information. The gains of South Africans’ struggle for freedom are threatened by the Secrecy Bill (the Protection of Information Bill) currently before Parliament.
This Bill fundamentally undermines the struggle for whistleblower protection and access to information. It is one of a number of proposed measures which could have the combined effect of fundamentally undermining the right to access information and the freedom of expression enshrined in the Constitution.
Join the Right2Know campaign’s Week of Action from 19th to the 27th October 2010 and send a clear message to the South African government: Stop the Secrecy Bill! Let the Truth Be Told!
Take Action Now!
Show our support for the Right2Know: Sign the statement at www.right2know.org.za or SMS “R2K”, followed by your name and town/city to 32759;
Organize public meetings, workshops, pickets, or protests during the Week of Action. Invite a representative of the Right2Know to speak at your event;
Contact a member of Parliament and tell them your concerns. The chair of the Committee is Cecil Burgess – you can call him on (021) 403 2911 or email him at cburgess@parliament.gov.za;
Write a letter to your local paper or call into talk radio explaining your concerns about the Bill; Support other events planned for the Week Of Action:
For details of other events visit www.right2know.org.za.
Contact Us
Contact the Right2Know to get involved, learn more about the campaign, let us know what you are planning, or get support:
Gauteng: March to Constitution Hill
Tuesday 19 October, 12h00 (commemorating Black Wednesday)
Gathering outside Senate House, Wits Jorissen Street, Braamfontein.
Kwazulu Natal: March to City Hall
Thursday 27 October, 8h00
Gathing at Botha’s Garden, Durban.
Western Cape: March to Parliament
Thursday 27 October, 9h30
Gatheing in Kaizersgracht Street, Cape Town
National Coordinator: Mark Weinberg Gauteng: Tendayi Sithole Kwazulu Natal: Quinton Kippen Western Cape: Nkwame Cedile
mark@amandla.org.za organiser@fxi.org.za quinton@ddpdurban.org.za nkwame.cedile@gmail.com
0214617211 0114821913 0313049305 0214617211
Stay connected through: Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Right-2-Know-Campaign/126804837369790?ref=ts); Twitter: www.twitter.com/r2kcampaign; Join the campaigns discussion group: http://groups.google.com/group/InfoAccessNow.
Stop the Secrecy Bill! Let the Truth Be Told!
