South Africa Adopts Secrecy Law That May Stifle Graft Probes
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South Africa’s Parliament approved a law to protect state secrets that opposition parties, labor unions and media companies say will curb free speech and stifle efforts to expose corruption.
The ruling African National Congress used its majority in the National Assembly to pass the Protection of State Information Bill by 229 votes to 107, with all opposition parties rejecting the measure. The law proposes jail sentences of as long as 25 years for anyone obtaining classified information, even if its disclosure was in the public interest.