STATEMENT FROM THE
PROFESSIONAL SPEAKERS ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHERN AFRICA
REGARDING
THE PROPOSED PROTECTION OF INFORMATION BILL
AND THE RIGHT TO KNOW CAMPAIGN
The Professional Speakers Association of Southern Africa (PSASA) is the
professional association for speakers in Southern Africa representing more
than 200 people who make their living, or part of their living, speaking to
and/or working with groups as trainers, facilitators, coaches, consultants,
adult educators, and keynoters.
As an organisation of people who are directly involved in the collection
and dissemination of information for the benefit of our clients we are
concerned by the initiatives by government to curb the free flow of
information through the proposed Protection of Information Bill.
The members of the PSASA are committed to the development of a
democratic South African society by using our skills and talents to improve
the quality of life for all South Africans. We believe that the functioning of
a healthy democracy depends on a well informed electorate able to
make educated choices. We therefore oppose any legislation intended
to curb in any way the free flow of information among the electorate
save that which could genuinely harm the security and wellbeing of the
majority of the population. We believe that the proposed legislation
would be retrogressive step away from true democracy and back toward
the abuses experienced in this country prior to 1994.
While members of government have stated that it is not the intention of
the legislation to muzzle the media and the free flow of information, we
recall the words of former United States president Lyndon B Johnson: "You
do not examine legislation in the light of the benefits it will convey if
properly administered, but in the light of the wrongs it would do and the
harms it would cause if improperly administered."
We note that there is more than adequate recourse in our current legal
framework for individuals to obtain relief from offensive and unjustified
reporting and to receive necessary compensation for resulting damages.
More specifically to our profession, one which is based on the collection
and distribution of information and opinion through the spoken and
written word, we believe the proposed Protection of Information Bill has
the potential to severely restrict our ability to operate in our chosen
vocation. Our members could unwittingly fall foul of the legislation and be
criminalized through speaking or writing about information which had
been declared classified. Our ability to function depends on the right of
free speech which could be compromised by the legislation. Furthermore,
many of our members contribute articles for publication in both the
electronic and print media, including maintaining blogs on the internet.
Since the intention of these articles is to increase earnings from their
speaking business, and for which they are sometimes directly paid by
various publications, these members could be considered as professional ,
albeit part-time, journalists and would, as currently contemplated by the
legislation, be required to be licensed. We strongly object to the potential
unnecessary and unwarranted micro-management and surveillance by
government of our profession which could result from the proposed
legislation. The success of individuals in the speaking profession often
depends on their availability to the international market. A criminal record
would severely limit their ability to travel internationally and so curtail their
ability to function freely as professional speakers. The proposed legislation
as it stands increases the potential for our members to be convicted of
criminal offences through the day to day performance of their work.
In light of the above the PSASA endorses the work of the Right to Know
Campaign, shares its concerns and supports its demands.
Dr. Wolfgang Riebe (National President)
Professional Speakers Association of Southern Africa
September 2010
admin@psasouthernafrica.co.za
PO Box 1858, North Riding 2162, South Africa
Phone: 011 462 9465 / 011 462 9465
Cell: 083 458 6114 / 083 458 6114
Fax: 086 515 0906