Critical Infrastructure Protection Bill should be amended: DA

Briefing the media in Durban today, DA Shadow Minister of Police Zakhele Mbhele said the biggest concern is the secrecy around the list of national key points.

Mbhele says the criteria for what should be classified as critical infrastructure is vague, allowing for abuse and political meddling.

"Effectively the bill in its current form can be used by the presidents at the behest of the minister to give effects to yet another Nkandlagate scandal. 

"South Africans can really afford another R240-million rand scandal using public money that should be used to delivery better services and create jobs.

"This list should be made public and be available for public scrutiny," he said

Mbhele says it also places individuals and journalists at risk of prosecution as filing or taking photographs of national key points is a criminal offence.

He says it's worrying that Parliament has been excluded from the process of identifying and protecting critical infrastructure.

"This means there will be no effective oversights and accountability. Recent abuses of the National Key Point Act indicates that it is essential that there are oversights over the protection of critical infrastructure and Parliament must be the body to do so", he said.

(Photos: Khatija Nxedlana)