The Mail & Guardian has joined the second annual Omega Investment Solutions Constitutional Conference as a media sponsor in 2012.
The conference aims to bring the legal, political and journalistic fraternity together with the general public to investigate how freedom of expression can be enhanced through the Constitution.
The event is due to take place at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange’s auditorium on March 7 2012.
“It is not civil society’s sole responsibility to watch over our democracy. We all need to constantly revisit our Constitution to investigate how we can improve and enhance our freedom,” said Omega chief executive Leole-Ann Francis-Tchimbioputo.
The conference occurs at a time of heightened uncertainty over the future of media freedom and uninhibited circulation of information following the controversial passing of the Protection of State Information Bill in Parliament this November.
The contentious legislation proposes harsh penalties for journalists and citizens found to be in possession of classified documents as well as harbouring state secrets.
Proposed consequences include prison sentences of up to 25 years with no mechanism, such as a public interest clause, to challenge the proposed sanctions.
In its current form, the Bill would see ordinary citizens and journalists treated as foreign spies if found to be in possession of information deemed to be a state secret.
There is no independent appeals mechanism available to citizens, who wish to access information that may have been classified as secret without justification.
Though there is a provision for a mostly independent body to review decisions, citizens do not have access directly to it.
It is hoped that through debate between individuals from varying backgrounds, freedom of expression and the freedom of information — rights enshrined in the Constitution — can be strengthened.
“Freedom of information and freedom of expression are not mere liberal ornaments to the Constitution, they are central to the realisation of the rights-based vision that it articulates. The Mail & Guardian is very pleased to be part of a discussion of how the constitutional project can better be defended and advanced,” M&G Editor-in-Chief Nic Dawes said.
Legal firm Webber Wentzel has also signed up as a partner for the event.