Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

2-minute read
14 October 2023 | 11:50 CAT

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The “Spy Bill” (officially known as the General Intelligence Laws Amendment Bill, 2023, or “GILAB”) is the latest in a series of laws (including the Anti-Money Laundering Act and Anti-Terrorism Act) that you would think have nothing to do with religious freedom.

However, according to FOR SA, all these laws limit the fundamental right to freedom of religion, with the “Spy Bill” arguably being the greatest threat to religious freedom that we have yet seen.

In an interview with Radio Islam International, the Executive Director of FOR SA, Michael Swain, raised concerns regarding the Spy Bill.

He said the bill in our fledgling South African democracy is certainly a departure from the norm and is more associated with communist-type playbooks.

“We believe that any law that allows the State to pry with private information and then analyse it and decide whether or not one poses a National Security risk is a pretty suspicious thing,” Swain said.

According to Swain, one of the big concerns is that the Bill gives the State the right to access any information they choose to access on an individual or an organisation, without any limits. The Bill also comes with serious sanctions for non-compliance.

“The “Spy Bill” will open the door to the State dictating who can start (or continue to operate) a church or an NGO. It therefore has the potential to be abused by the Government to silence critical voices who oppose it and/or who do work for the community independently of the State,” Daniella Ellerbeck stated.

The “Spy Bill” has been approved by the Cabinet and was submitted to Parliament on Tuesday, 29 August 2023. The Bill will now be referred to a parliamentary committee for consideration and deliberation. This committee will then have to subject the Bill to meaningful public participation. At this point, the Bill will be opened up for the public’s scrutiny and comments. This will be a critical opportunity for those who object to this proposed law in its current form to have their say and propose changes – or live with the potentially disastrous consequences.

Listen to the full interview on The Daily Round-Up with Moulana Junaid Kharsany.