An ominous new Bill tabled in parliament this week will place extensive power in the hands of the minister of economic affairs to control information about "any goods or services" he feels it is "in the public interest" to restrict.
The government has not stated precisely what sort of information it wants to control, but the new Bill is clearly aimed at controlling information about goods and services which could be affected by sanctions. In the past, the minister of economic affairs could slap a ban on information if he believed this was necessary for the security of the state.
But, in terms of the National Supplies Procurement Amendment Bill, he will soon be able to impose 'similar restrictions if he believes it to be "in the public interest".
In the past, the minister could only impose controls by notice in the Government Gazette. In the new Bill, these prohibitions can now be imposed on any individual or any group. Anyone who violates the Act outside South Africa, will be charged on re-entering.
This article originally appeared in the Weekly Mail.
