As the National Council of Provinces holds public hearings on the Protection of State Information Bill, which may well be passed into law in April, South Africans are invited to the second instalment of last year’s Constitutional Conference.
The conference, to be held on March 7, comes at a time of heightened uncertainty over the future of media freedom and uninhibited circulation of information following the controversial passing of the secrecy Bill by Parliament in November.
Titled ‘Freedom of Information and Freedom of Expression: The Bedrock of Democracy”, it is organised by Omega Investment Research and will be held at the JSE. It aims to bring the legal, political and journalistic fraternity together with the public to investigate how freedom of expression can be enhanced through the Constitution.
Former Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo will give the keynote address and there will be presentations from, among others, advocate Paul Hoffman of the Institute for Accountability in Southern Africa, Dario Milo of Webber Wentzel, Nic Dawes, editor of the Mail & Guardian — and City Press editor Ferial Haffajee. To register as a delegate or for more information contact Stacey on 021 689 7881 or [email protected].