The South African Democratic Teachers' Union, the biggest teachers' union in the country, has joined the chorus condemning the Protection of State Information Bill, saying it will reverse the gains of freedom.
Closing the union's three-day national general council meeting in Pretoria yesterday, Sadtu president Thobile Ntola said the bill must be reviewed because it took away the fundamental right to freedom of speech.
His condemnation was despite SA Communist Party general secretary Blade Nzimande, during his opening speech on Friday, describing the bill's critics as liberals working in the interests of the DA.
Ntola said those who voted in favour of the bill were moved by what he called "mob behaviour" and would realise one day, when it was too late, that they were "so wrong".
The bill received 229 for votes and 107 against in the National Assembly on Tuesday.
The draft law, which criminalises the possession and publication of classified state information, has been referred to the National Council of Provinces for discussion.
Ntola warned there could be "blood on the floor" in defending the freedom fought for by struggle stalwarts such as Walter Sisulu and Govan Mbeki.
"Our stance is clear: the bill must be relooked [sic] because what we fought for is freedom of speech, which will be taken away by this bill. The fact that the bill was voted for by the majority does not mean this majority is right. The minority that voted against the bill could be proved right down the line."
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