Advocacy
The M&G Centre for Investigative Journalism seeks to develop investigative journalism in the public interest by engaging in advocacy to secure the information rights investigative journalists need to do their work.
We do not campaign for campaigning's sake, but target matters where we can help ensure conditions are conducive to the practice of investigative journalism.
Our advocacy activities have included:
- The "Secrecy Bill" and the Right2Know Campaign: The Protection of State Information Bill would classify large swathes of information to the detriment of open and accountable government. We joined forces with like-minded organisations in 2010 to form the Right2Know Campaign (R2K), which we continue to help lead and advise.
- The Companies Act and shareholder transparency: When the Companies Amendment Bill was submitted to Parliament in 2010, we identified drafting changes which could effectively deprive members of the public the right to inspect company share registers, which has always been an important tool for transparency in general, and for investigative journalists in particular when they research corruption and conflict of interests. We made submissions to Parliament, lobbied MPs and drafters, and proposed new drafting. On March 15 2011, Parliament passed the Bill with the amendments we had proposed, guaranteeing public access.
- Exercising PAIA: We have made it our business to "flex" the Promotion of Access to Information Act. While the results are often discouraging, the use of the Act builds up a body of knowledge and precedent in its use. Where appropriate, we will litigate both to access the required information and to help set judicial precedent.
- Campaigning journalism: We have published numerous opinion articles dealing with matters of access to information, media freedom, etc.
Articles and announcements
May 07 2013
The M&G Centre for Investigative Journalism condemns the arrest of Owen Gagare, a former intern of ours.
May 06 2013
MGCIJ shares South Africans' widespread dismay at the National Assembly's adoption on April 25 of the Protection of State Information Bill (The Secrecy Bill).
Apr 11 2013
Long-running Promotion of Access to Information (Paia) request heads to court.
Mar 18 2013
COMMENT: Loopholes in draft legislation would give intelligence agencies a backdoor to your communications, no judicial oversight required
Nov 23 2012
Nxesi ignored 30-day deadline to respond to Promotion of Access to Information Act appeal for Nkandla info.
Nov 22 2012
ANALYSIS: The National Key Points Act is misplaced in our democracy, making its recent abuse even worse.
Jul 27 2012
LEGISLATION: A proposed law threatens journalists who work outside the mainstream of print and television.
May 11 2012
ANALYSIS: There are still snags in the current secrecy Bill which need to be overcome before the messy democratic success is turned into good law.
May 04 2012
Informed by a fuzzy opinion that self-regulation has failed, it exposes the industry to manipulation
Feb 22 2012
The Right2Know Campaign (R2K) and the South African National Editors' Forum (Sanef)'s submissions to the National Council of Provinces.
Feb 10 2012
Public hearings on the secrecy Bill is your last chance to make your voice heard.
Feb 07 2012
VIDEO: AmaBhungane advocacy coordinator Glenda Daniels brings us up to speed on the state of the fight for media freedom.
Jan 27 2012
But the trade union federation stops short of calling for a mandatory media tribunal.
Dec 15 2011
The Press Freedom Commission returned from an international study tour and will be able to show the ANC a good example of press self-regulation.
Dec 02 2011
ANALYSIS: Without a public interest defence the Secrecy Bill is flawed and unconstitutional.
Nov 11 2011
Dysfunctional record-keeping keeps watchdog groups and the media in the dark.
Oct 14 2011
Commission is embarking on a campaign to elicit debate and is researching possible regulation.
Oct 14 2011
MEDIA FREEDOM: ANC-driven public participation process on the Secrecy Bill could be a move to sideline Parliament.
Sep 30 2011
But the digital age may confront the old ways of hiding behind wealth and patronage.
Sep 23 2011
COMMENT: Parliamentary indaba an attempt to usher in a media appeals tribunal through the side door
Sep 20 2011
amaBhungane welcomes withdrawal of controversial law
Sep 16 2011
Rage, rage against the dimming
of society's right to know
Sep 09 2011
Activists and others are joining forces at a conference which aims to yield a declaration on access to information.
Sep 02 2011
M&G Centre of Investigative Journalism will add its weight to the Constitutional Court challenge.
Sep 02 2011
If passed, the Secrecy Bill will help to mask the corrupt activities of those in government. The fight to stop the Bill just got harder.
Aug 19 2011
But council reiterates the importance of self-regulation to uphold standards.
Aug 05 2011
MEDIA FREEDOM: The ANC's backtracking on essential concessions in the Bill is galvanising activists like never before.
Jul 15 2011
Whistle-blowers and journalists can still be criminalised, even though concessions have been made to the Secrecy Bill.
Nov 11 2011
Botswana has been awarded this year's "Golden Padlock" award for the Southern African country with the most secretive public institutions.
Oct 21 2011
The cartoonist believes it is too prescriptive and ignores the creative freedom of artists.
Jun 28 2011
The M&G Centre for Investigative Journalism welcomes the concessions ANC MPs made last Friday (June 24) regarding the Protection of Information Bill.
Jun 24 2011
What Jimmy Manyi's ultimate fantasy could look like
Feb 24 2012
NEWS ANALYSIS: There is little clarity about the form a media appeals tribunal is likely to take.
Jun 17 2011
A three-pronged attack by the government comes as self-scrutiny increases.
Jun 10 2011
The planned media appeals tribunal is once again high on the ruling party's agenda .
Jun 03 2011
COMMENT: The organisation that liberated us from
apartheid now wishes to oppress us.
May 20 2011
Sticking points prevent committee from pushing legislation through in its current state
Apr 08 2011
What do you do when you have less than three months before the next "final" deadline for the controversial Protection of Information Bill?
Mar 25 2011
The Right2Know campaign is compiling a list of South Africa's top 10 secrets.
Mar 18 2011
The "development agenda" and "national security" have been invoked to curb press freedom in all post-colonial African countries.
Feb 25 2011
President Jacob Zuma is once again pursuing his lawsuit against cartoonist Jonathan Shapiro for the "rape of justice" cartoon published two years ago.
Feb 11 2011
Group opposed to ‘secrecy’ Bill becomes a formally constituted organisation
Oct 29 2010
The Right2Know Campaign is having an impact, it said after its “week of action”, culminating in a mass march on Parliament. Here is the full statement
Oct 27 2010
The Right2Know Campaign is marching to Parliament today.
Oct 19 2010
The Right2Know Campaign (R2K) launched a Week of Action on October 19 – the commemoration of Black Wednesday
Sep 01 2010
amaBhungane, a founder member of the Right2Know Campaign, participated on August 31 in the launch of the campaign's Stop the Secrecy Bill statement.
Jul 20 2010
amaBhungane's take on the Protection of Information Bill.
Jul 16 2010
It's an elephant dressed up as a sheep, the M&G told Parliament when the draconian Protection of Information Bill was introduced.
Jun 08 2010
Answers to who cashed in on the World Cup millions would finally be forthcoming, after the M&G court win to access LOC tender documents.
Apr 30 2010
The M&G and amaBhungane's Adriaan Basson are taking the 2010 Fifa World Cup LOC and its boss, Danny Jordaan, to court …
Apr 08 2010
The M&G Centre for Investigative Journalism is taking up the fight against the new proposed Protection of Information Bill.
Team blog
